Int'l Boxing Association (AIBA) President Ching-Kuo Wu said that professional boxers "will compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics" after AIBA approved a constitutional change on Wednesday, according to Karolos Grohmann REUTERS. Wu said that "the change of the AIBA constitution was approved with 95 percent in favor -- 84 of 88 voting members -- paving the way for professionals to fight for medals for the first time at the Olympics." He said, "We approved it and now they can compete." AIBA spokesperson Nicolas Jomard said that "there would be no wild cards, with the age limit at 40 for the athletes." The move "has drawn considerable criticism as many argue it would be unfair to amateur boxers who have trained for the Games for years and may now have to make way for the professionals." Jomard "rejected claims of a disparity." He said, "There has been a lot of talk about disparity of level. But it is not true."
He said that "professionals would just need to adapt to a different set of rules that was Olympic boxing" (REUTERS, 6/1).
BOXERS CRITICAL: The BBC reported former world champion Carl Frampton and a number of other high-profile fighters "have criticised the decision to allow professionals to box at the Olympics." Northern Irishman Frampton said amateur and pro boxing were "two different sports." Ricky Hatton, Richie Woodhall and Stephen Smith also "criticized the move." Former welterweight and light-welterweight world champion Hatton tweeted, "Goodbye amateur boxing now. Can't say I'm a fan of this." Former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Smith, who has had 28 fights as a pro, said he was "gutted" to learn the news. He tweeted, "Absolutely ruins amateur boxing that in my opinion. Wrong." However, Olympic Medalist Michael Conlan said that "he is happy to fight against professionals" as he seeks to add Gold to the Bronze he won in London. He said, "It wouldn't bother me, I'll beat all of them" (BBC, 6/1).
NEW LOW: The PA reported the World Boxing Council described the move as the "shameful lowest stage" of Olympic boxing.
The British Amateur Boxing Association, however, "is not expected to consider the selection of professional fighters for the Games." The British Boxing Board of Control, which oversees the U.K.’s professional fight scene "also disapproves of the development." BABA General Secretary Robert Smith said, "The board are against it. We possibly have to speak to [BABA] about this. [But] we do not think it’s a good idea" (PA, 6/1). In Glasgow, Declan Warrington wrote "they are not expected to be given a wildcard" and must therefore pursue qualification at a tournament scheduled for Venezuela in July. Wu said, "This is a key part of my master plan and is a big step forward. At this stage, it is difficult to say how many professionals will compete in Rio. But there will be some. In my belief every athlete should have the right to go to the Olympic Games" (DAILY RECORD, 6/1).
