Why arent Pro Boxers able to fight in the Olympics?

[βetamax]

gain, once someone turns pro they cannot compete in amateur boxing, period.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Sigh. You guys are talking out of your ass.

The deal is this: Olympic eligibility and international rules are governed by various organizations...all of whom have different rules. It is just a crappy mix of governing bodies. They all report "IN to" (not "to") the IOC. There really is no consistency. Think about the lack of consistency within a single sport (say boxing). The WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO all have different rankings, champions, sometimes rules, etc.

For example, the world basketball organization is FIBA. IAAF governs track and field. Yadda yadda. I believe that the AIBA governs boxing.

Each organization sets their own rules and qualifications. That is why you see "professional" athletes like Shaun White or Misty May or Tyson Gay in some sports, but other sports retain a stricter definition of "amateur'.

Misty May:





If the IABA elected to change their rules, you would see young pros go to the Olympics.

[Ryn0]

Because apart from the communist countries most countries have relatively young fighters and alot of the lesser amateurs wouldn't be able to have any success with the much more skilled and experienced pro fighters and would proberbly get KO'd early and would deter them from a pro career.

[SkillspayBills]

Would you want Vladimir Klichko to win the gold medal again ?

and again and again and again.

[abadger]

I'm not sure the pro-boxers would be too keen. Imagine it, they'd actually have to fight whoever the draw threw up, rather than hand picked opponents.

It would never do.

[squealpiggy]

Amatuer boxing and professional boxing are totally different sports with different equipment and different rules. Amateur basketball and professional basketball are the same sport with the same rules. Therefore it is easy to make the transition to allowing professionals to compete. Nobody would suggest that professional ice hockey players be allowed to compete in field hockey events, so why should pro boxers compete in what is in essence an amateur event?

Olympic boxing is amateur boxing. That's just the way it is.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Amatuer boxing and professional boxing are totally different sports with different equipment and different rules. Amateur basketball and professional basketball are the same sport with the same rules. Therefore it is easy to make the transition to allowing professionals to compete. Nobody would suggest that professional ice hockey players be allowed to compete in field hockey events, so why should pro boxers compete in what is in essence an amateur event?

Olympic boxing is amateur boxing. That's just the way it is.

NBA basketball and International basketball have substantially different rules.

1) the court is a different size
2) It is reffed differently
3) Different number of fouls
4) Different length of play
5) Different distance for 3 point goal
6) T****zoidal lane
etc...

[squealpiggy]

NBA basketball and International basketball have substantially different rules.

1) the court is a different size
2) It is reffed differently
3) Different number of fouls
4) Different length of play
5) Different distance for 3 point goal
6) T****zoidal lane
etc...

Is there a different method for scoring points or does it still entail throwing it through the basket thing? Is there different equipment or do they use basketballs?

I suspect that the difference isn't so much between amateur and professional as between NBA and rest of world.

[El Jesus]

Is there a different method for scoring points or does it still entail throwing it through the basket thing? Is there different equipment or do they use basketballs?

I suspect that the difference isn't so much between amateur and professional as between NBA and rest of world.

honestly there is, in international basketball its oriented on team play instead of 1on1, there are subtle rules that differ it greatly from the NBA. Even the NCAA game is much different than the NBA from the differing 3pt line to the difference in defense. Also, FIBA/Olympic basketball i dont think there is any Goaltending neither that is a HUGE rule in the NBA/NCAA. Trust me, olympic ball is drastically different.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Is there a different method for scoring points or does it still entail throwing it through the basket thing? Is there different equipment or do they use basketballs?

I suspect that the difference isn't so much between amateur and professional as between NBA and rest of world.

It is analogous: You score points by using the white part of the glove and a 21-footer is a three point basket.

There are differences in scoring. I understand your point that the relative changes are different. But something tells me that Casamayor or Mayweather would do just fine in the Olympics this year.