Boxing’s global governing body will vote within three months on proposals that would allow all professional fighters to compete in the Olympic Games, including in Rio, AIBA’s president told Agence France-Presse on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Advertisement
Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine on the way to Olympics gold against Paea Wofgram of Tongo in 1996.
The Daily Mail reports that according to the Philippine Star, Pacquiao received the personal invite from AIBA president Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.
The man known as Money brought the curtain down on his career with a professional record of 49 wins from 49 fights a year ago. Wu believes it is “absolutely possible” to change the rules in time for August’s Rio Games.
“The African continent’s boxers continue to show their prowess and strenghth at AIBA Boxing events, as highlighted by Morocco’s Mohammed Rabii who was crowned 1st African AIBA World Champion in Doha in 2015”.
Olympic boxers have been using protective headguards since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. The last Games without them were in Moscow 1980.
Professional fighters could be permitted to compete at the Rio Olympics.
“Everyone will need to qualify, they will need to be picked by their own federations so there are things that need to happen first”.
“I may be the best amateur in the world by winning the Olympics – now I really have to empty my cup, just like all Olympians do when they decide to turn pro, they empty their amateur cup and now they start learning as a professional, different scoring, a different type of boxing, longer rounds”. It is AIBA’s 70th birthday and we want something to change – not after four years, but now.
The 50-year-old, who won gold at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 representing Canada before turning professional, retired in 2003 having won 41 of his 44 pro fights.
There is a vast difference between professional and amateur boxing although many Olympic medallists like Muhammad Ali and Mayweather went on to become professional superstars.
Advertisement
AIBA holds added influence as it is the only body recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and therefore sets guidelines on who can compete at the Games.
