Could some of the world’s top pros be set to take to the Rio ring this August?
New proposals from the sport’s governing body AIBA mean that professional boxers could be competing at the 2016 games, according to AIBA president Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.
Speaking to Press Association Sport, Wu said: “We want the best boxers to come to the Olympic Games. It is AIBA’s 70th birthday, and we want something to change — not after four years, but now.
“It is an IOC policy to have the best athletes in the Games, and of the international federations, AIBA is probably the only one without professional athletes in the Olympics.
“We already have our own professionals, APB and WSB boxers, in the Games – [and] we will go further.”
Wu is adamant on furthering the existing limitations that allow professionals compete at the Games under the condition that they have less than 15 professional fights and sign a short-term deal with the APB.
A full merger between the amateur and professional codes this year is ” absolutely possible” according to Wu.
Don’t get overly excited about the prospect of an Andy Lee fighting in Rio this year though as it is more likely, even if the proposal gets pushed through, that the Irish Boxing Association will send amateur athletes who have been matured through funded programmes to represent them.
But theoretically, under the new regulations, there would be nothing stopping the IBA sending a pro to fill in at a weight where they feel they are short of medal-winning quality.
“I think any international federation must start to think about what the future of the sport will be, and if we know what we would like to happen then we must propel our vision,” Wu continued.
“After 70 years, it is up to AIBA to set up a good foundation which will last for many decades.
“When I took over the presidency in 2006 I made it very clear the term of amateur is not really relevant because when you look now at all the Olympic sports, who is really amateur?
“I think the process is very clear and we plan to consider it very thoroughly.
“We have already received a very strong, positive response from our members, and everybody is excited and would like to see it.”
