Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Boxing

WBC President slams pro boxer participation in Olympics


Professional boxing has always been divided, to say the least.

From the number of governing bodies and weight divisions, to the promotions, carriers, and sponsorships that come with it, boxing has fragmented itself into too many pieces. However, one thing has always been a certainty: the fine line between being an amateur boxer and a professional boxer.

Amateur boxing is one of the highlights of the Olympics. Moreover, in some cases, it has been the springboard for some of the all-time greats to transition to the professional ranks.

Legends Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. all proudly won an Olympic Gold which jumpstarted their glorious runs to the World Championship. But once you step onto the professional ranks, you can never go back and compete in amateur boxing.

That fine line though is set to be broken as the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur, the governing body for amateur boxing, is proposing that professional boxers be allowed to compete in Olympic-style boxing. In addition, it might happen at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“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,” AIBA president Dr Ching-Kuo Wu stated. “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.”

The NBA has always sent over their marquee stars to compete in basketball, while football players like Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Sweden have been captain for their respective national teams. So why not in boxing as well?

#ReadMore  Top Rank CEO disappointed with Pacquiao-Bradley III PPV returns

Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has also toyed with the idea of making his Olympic debut as well to represent the Philippines. “I’m not saying I’m going to fight or saying I’m not,” Pacquiao said when pressed about the possibility of him competing in the 2016 Games. “I’m not closing the door. I’m thinking about it.”

“Professional Olympic boxers” was the talk of the night during the 16th Annual Elorde Boxing Awards last Tuesday held at the Grand Ballroom Sofitel Philippine Plaza, with mixed reaction.

Elorde-Awards-Mauricio-Sulaiman WBC President slams pro boxer participation in Olympics Boxing News  - philippine sports news
When asked about this, the night’s honored guest was completely abhorred by the idea, as World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman slammed the proposal.

“This is not like basketball or football where you score points,” Sulaiman told Tiebreaker Times. “Boxing is a combat sport and very dangerous. I hope this does not happen.”

The main difference between amateur and professional boxing is that the objective of Olympic-style boxers is to score more points by landing shots on the opponent’s target area. On the other hand, professional boxers are trained to knockout an opponent, as more knockouts lead to higher personal exposure.

Sulaiman added that the proposal can actually kill boxing as we know it. “(The proposal) is a lie. It’s attempting to kill the sport,” he stressed.

“Amateur boxing is one thing, professional boxing is another. Think of a professional athlete boxing a boy,” he added with complete disgust.

Sulaiman vowed to continue to fight this proposal as he deemed that the cons greatly outweigh the positives. “We will never stop combating that idea because it is irresponsible and it is dangerous,” he closed.

#ReadMore  La Salle survives UST rally, strengthens hold on second place

While AIBA is currently fast tracking their proposed plan, Sulaiman, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, and other influential boxing personalities are continuing their fight to halt this from happening.

Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League is set to expand its reach this December, holding the first two games of its Sixth Season National Finals...

Boxing

Manny Pacquiao found himself unexpectedly challenged by Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in a thrilling exhibition match. Their three-round boxing bout served as the co-main...

Boxing

Exhibition boxing matches have hogged the spotlight as of late, and Eduard Folayang isn’t afraid to hop on the hype train if it means...

Boxing

A homecoming fight awaits Olympian boxer Eumir Marcial in Manila. Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions has officially confirmed that the 28-year-old Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist...

2024 Summer Olympics

Manny Pacquiao won’t be showcasing his legendary ring savvy at the Paris Olympics primarily because the former eight-division world professional champion is overaged. The...

Boxing

Retired eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao personally congratulated Paris Olympic-bound fighter Eumir Felix Marcial for winning a silver medal in the 19th Asian...

Basketball

The North selection finally prevailed over their South counterparts, winning 99-91 on late Saturday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season All-Star...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Filipinos have long been known for being gracious hosts, and that hasn’t changed at all during the FIBA World Cup 2023. Italy, a quarterfinalist...

Advertisement