Olympic Games boxing proposal 'farcical', says BBoC'S Robert Smith
Thursday 25 February 2016 15:50, UK
The proposal to allow established professional boxers to compete in the Olympic Games in Rio this year is farcical, according to one of Britain's leading boxing administrators.
Ching-Kuo Wu, head of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), said on Wednesday he wanted to see top-ranked pros like Floyd Mayweather competing for gold medals, possibly as soon as this year.
The AIBA organises Olympic boxing matches, although its executive committee would still need to approve Wu's proposal for it to become a reality.
However, Robert Smith, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, says the plan is unworkable.
"I can't see how it would work to be honest," he said. "Are you really going to put in Floyd Mayweather against some little boy who has qualified through the Olympic system in Rio? There is a gulf in class and ability.
"It's farcical to think this could happen in time for Rio. How can you just click your fingers and just sort it out now?"
Amateur boxers are selected for the Olympics in various ways, including the World Amateur Championships and continental qualifying tournaments in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Pros with less than 15 bouts are eligible to enter the qualification process under current AIBA rules, but Smith said it would be unfair to invite experienced professionals.
"At the present time you have boxers going around the world trying to qualify for the Olympics. Are you going to say, 'thanks very much but goodbye, we are going to have somebody else'," said Smith.
Smith also doubts professional world champions would want to jeopardise their careers by taking part in three-round contests that bear little resemblance to professional bouts.
"Is a professional boxer going to drop everything to go and fight in the Olympics? Pros take three rounds to warm up. It's a different discipline," he said.
"I wouldn't have thought anyone who's already been there, done it, been a world champion, wants to go back and jeopardise what they've already achieved."
Under Wu's leadership, the AIBA set up the semi-professional World Series Boxing in 2011, in which boxers can earn money fighting for city-based teams. He also helped introduce women's boxing to the Olympics in London four years ago.
"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," he said on Wednesday.
