Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya said fight fans love the big hitters and particularly bemoaned a lack of excitement in the heavyweight ranks. But the promoter believes a renaissance could be born at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"The Olympics are important to identifying the next superstars. We’ve had our struggles in the past Olympics," De La Hoya said about poor U.S. results at recent Games, "which I blame on the Olympic system, which has been changed now back to the old scoring system."

Now instead of computerized punch counts, which reward volume, ringside judges will score along the lines of professional boxing to better integrate technique and punching power into the judging.

"I believe that in Rio and the following Olympics, America is going to have our next great Olympic champions who are going to carry the sport for years to come," said De La Hoya, who plans on being in Rio as a spectator and talent scout.

"I strongly feel that in Rio the United States is going to identify the next heavyweight champion that America needs to bring excitement and more attention to the sport."