British-born former world super-lightweight champion Amir Khan has opened the door to representing Pakistan at this summer’s Olympics after boxing bosses announced that professional fighters will be eligible to compete at the Games.
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“If I am permitted as per rules and from my promoter then I would love to compete for Pakistan”, he said at a press conference.
India will not field any boxer in the 56kg division in this event as World Championship bronze-medallist Shiva Thapa has already qualified in the category at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in March.
The WBC, one of the world’s leading professional boxing organisations, described the move as the “shameful lowest stage” of Olympic boxing.
The retired world champion does not, however, consider it to be a risky development, insisting the best amateurs are capable of beating their professional counterparts in the amateur format.
Robert Smith, the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC), which oversees the UK’s professional boxing circuit, said the BBBC board was against the decision. A spokesperson said: “Our efforts are focused on preparing our boxers for the next qualification event [in Baku] in mid-June when we hope to qualify the remaining two places”. “I want to serve Pakistan”. [But] If I went to the Olympics now as a professional, it wouldn’t feel right, wouldn’t feel the same.
The Olympic boxing tournament is two weeks long, and fighters must box day in, day out, facing several opponents before they can take a gold medal.
“Overall, it’s a bad move”.
“You see people already jumping to the gun and saying it’s awful because amateur boxers are kids (and they) are going to get hurt”.
“Professional boxing and how you train for a professional boxing contest, 12 rounds, three minutes, and the Olympic cycle where you are fighting maybe four times over 10 days is a totally different sport”. “A lot of top world champions would get beaten by top amateurs”.
“I don’t think they’ll be too anxious. A professional boxer that’s rough and tough, or an amateur boxer with bags of global amateur boxing experience, and (of) how to score on the scoring system, to impress the judges?”
“One’s coming up on June 16 until the 25th and the other one is July 3rd until the 8th, so I just don’t think it’s plausible that a professional boxer is going to be able to change his training dynamic to go and try and qualify for that tournament”.
With such high stakes in the world of professional boxing, where a single loss can effectively end a top fighter’s career and reputation, there are also questions over who would want to step into the ring.
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“We don’t think it’s a very sensible idea at all and ultimately possibly risky”.
