By Vadmin Pushkin
2012 Olympic gold medal winner Oleksandr Usyk (9-0, 9KOs) hs refused an invitation from the AIBA to compete in the upcoming Olympic games in Rio.
Ever since the AIBA (the amateur boxing governing body) announced their proposal to allow pro boxers to compete in the Olympics against untested amateurs, there has been a lot of controversy on the subject.
Fighters like Wladimir Klitschko and Manny Pacquiao are open to the idea of competing for Olympic gold. Other fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr. are not interested and believe the idea is crazy.
Even promoters like Bob Arum of Top Rank, and sanctioning bodies like the World Boxing Council, are opposing the AIBA's decision. Because there is no money involved, a lot of top pros are unlikely to involve themselves.
"Allowing professionals to box in the Olympics......this is nonsense - said Usyk to Boxing News Ukraine. "Wladimir Klitchko? It's not even clear on whether or not he will go. They came to me as well and asked me about it, but I told them that I do not want to do it."
Usyk, the WBO's mandatory challenger in the cruiserweight division, is very close to a world title shot against champion Krzysztof Glowacki, who defends his belt later this month against for IBF beltholder Steve Cunningham. Usyk was recently injured in training and it forced him to withdraw from a stay-busy fight. He instead will recover and wait it out for the winner of Glowacki-Cunningham.
