Another major boxing organization has taken a stand against allowing professional boxers to compete at this summer's Rio Olympics.
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has stated that anyone who fights in the Olympics will be removed from their rankings for one year, and any current champions will be stripped of their belts.
One current IBF world champion is heavyweight Anthony Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist. Joshua recently called the decision to allow pros into the Olympics "dangerous" and said that he would not be interested in competing in the future because he would not want to take a spot away from his close friends on the Great Britain team who are currently training for 2020's Tokyo Games.
The IBF is the second of the major organizations to formally promise sanctions against boxers who enter the Olympic Games. Previously, the World Boxing Council (WBC) said that any boxers ranked inside the top 15 would receive a two-year ban if they compete in Rio.
Earlier in June, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) officially voted to allow pros to compete at the Olympic Games for the first time. A qualifying tournament that will be open to professionals is scheduled for July, but it remains to be seen if any major boxers will participate.
The decision has drawn criticism from organizations such as the IBF and WBC in part because of safety concerns stemming from pitting pro fighters against amateurs.
Article courtesy of NBC
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has stated that anyone who fights in the Olympics will be removed from their rankings for one year, and any current champions will be stripped of their belts.
One current IBF world champion is heavyweight Anthony Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist. Joshua recently called the decision to allow pros into the Olympics "dangerous" and said that he would not be interested in competing in the future because he would not want to take a spot away from his close friends on the Great Britain team who are currently training for 2020's Tokyo Games.
The IBF is the second of the major organizations to formally promise sanctions against boxers who enter the Olympic Games. Previously, the World Boxing Council (WBC) said that any boxers ranked inside the top 15 would receive a two-year ban if they compete in Rio.
Earlier in June, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) officially voted to allow pros to compete at the Olympic Games for the first time. A qualifying tournament that will be open to professionals is scheduled for July, but it remains to be seen if any major boxers will participate.
The decision has drawn criticism from organizations such as the IBF and WBC in part because of safety concerns stemming from pitting pro fighters against amateurs.
Article courtesy of NBC
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