Sung by boxing trainer Cagey Joe (Davidson Knight) after he has been introduced to Bugsy Malone’s saviour-of-the-moment, Leroy Smith (Paul Murphy).
[Chorus]
So you wanna be a boxer
In the golden ring?
Can you punch like a south-bound freight train
Tell me just one thing
[Verse 1]
Can you move in a word
Like a hummingbird's wing
If you need to? (Ooh, that's fast)
Can you bob, can you weave
Can you fake, and deceive
When you need to
Well, you might as well quit
If you haven't got it
[Chorus]
So you wanna be a boxer?
Can you pass the test
I can tell if you've got it in you
I've trained the best
[Verse 2]
When you work and you sweat
And you bet 'cause you train
To a buzz-saw (Zing!)
Then you near lose your mind
When you find that your boy
Has a glass jaw
So you might as well quit
If you haven't got it
[Refrain]
Put him in the ring, Joe
Look at what you found
We can use the fun, Joe
Pushing him around
Well show him the ropes
And destroy his hopes
Put him in the ring, Joe
Give the guy a chance
Let him feel the sting, Joe
We can make him dance
We'll pulp him to bits
Then he'll call it quits for sure, Joe
[Chorus]
So you wanna be a boxer?
Wanna be the champ?
There's a golden boy inside you
Not a punched-out tramp
[Verse 3]
If you listen and you learn
There's an honor you can earn
And defend here
When you do see the crown
You're a king, not a clown
A contender
But you might as well quit
If you haven't got it
[Refrain]
Put him in the ring, Joe
Something new to punch
Let me have a swing, Joe
Then we'll go to lunch
We'll make it quite swift
Then he'll get the drift
Put him in the ring, Joe
Chicken à la carte
Let me have a wing, Joe
Tearing him apart
That chicken will crow
Let me have him, Joe
So You Wanna Be a Boxer? was written by Paul Williams.
So You Wanna Be a Boxer? was produced by Paul Williams.
The film was released in 1976.