Regardless of the near-unanimous vote by AIBA, the organization that oversees amateur boxing, this week that will allow professional boxers to participate in the Olympics this summer in Rio de Janeiro, there will be no American pros in the tournament.
USA Boxing, which governs amateur boxing in the United States and is a member of AIBA, announced on Wednesday that it will not send professionals to the final qualifying event for the Rio Games.
Although the decision to allow professionals to box in the Olympics, where they could face far less experienced amateurs in potentially dangerous mismatches, was met by near universal condemnation by those involved in professional boxing, USA Boxing took a softer stance in making its announcement.
"USA Boxing appreciates AIBA's continuing efforts toward the evolution of international boxing, and we recognize that the admission of professional boxers is an inevitable development. However, USA Boxing's Olympic selection procedures, on which our amateur athletes have relied for the past two years, preclude us from making the last-minute changes that would be required to invite professionals to compete," USA Boxing said in a statement. "We believe that many other countries face similar difficulties, and in fairness to our athletes who have already been selected to fulfill their Olympic dreams, we abstained from voting for the proposed change of the eligibility rules."
The U.S. Olympic team is preparing for the next qualifying tournament, which runs from June 14 to June 26 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Six of the U.S. Olympic Trials champions who have not yet qualified to box in Rio will represent the United States in an effort to qualify. If they don't qualify in that tournament they will have another opportunity at a qualifying tournament next month in Venezuela.
"USA Boxing will not be sending professional boxers to the final qualifying event (in Venezuela)," USA Boxing said.
Article courtesy of ESPN
USA Boxing, which governs amateur boxing in the United States and is a member of AIBA, announced on Wednesday that it will not send professionals to the final qualifying event for the Rio Games.
Although the decision to allow professionals to box in the Olympics, where they could face far less experienced amateurs in potentially dangerous mismatches, was met by near universal condemnation by those involved in professional boxing, USA Boxing took a softer stance in making its announcement.
"USA Boxing appreciates AIBA's continuing efforts toward the evolution of international boxing, and we recognize that the admission of professional boxers is an inevitable development. However, USA Boxing's Olympic selection procedures, on which our amateur athletes have relied for the past two years, preclude us from making the last-minute changes that would be required to invite professionals to compete," USA Boxing said in a statement. "We believe that many other countries face similar difficulties, and in fairness to our athletes who have already been selected to fulfill their Olympic dreams, we abstained from voting for the proposed change of the eligibility rules."
The U.S. Olympic team is preparing for the next qualifying tournament, which runs from June 14 to June 26 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Six of the U.S. Olympic Trials champions who have not yet qualified to box in Rio will represent the United States in an effort to qualify. If they don't qualify in that tournament they will have another opportunity at a qualifying tournament next month in Venezuela.
"USA Boxing will not be sending professional boxers to the final qualifying event (in Venezuela)," USA Boxing said.
Article courtesy of ESPN
Subscribe to the Ringside Reporter
