Comments Thread For: Lennox Lewis: Pro Fighters in The Olympics is Preposterous!

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Former World and Olympic champion Lennox Lewis has slammed a proposal to allow professional boxers to compete at the Olympics, saying it could be dangerous for young amateur boxers.

Lewis won the super-heavyweight gold for Canada at the 1988 Games in Seoul before turning professional and switching to represent Britain as unified heavyweight world champion.

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[PittyPat]

I know someone brought up the money issue, but I'm nonetheless with Lennox on this one. It still has me scratching my head as to how they could potentially allow some of these kids to step into the same ring as a pro.

[P4PLoser]

He is right, but on the other hand, the Olympics is all about the best competing with the best.

[SplitSecond]

The way these guys talk it's like any Pro can enter. I thought it was only Pro's with under 15 fights or something near that?

[PunchyPotorff]

Won't be the first ignorant idea AIBA has had. I am not a fan of the amateurs anymore. It's become a convoluted joke of what it once was.

[Chrismart]

Totally agree.

[NEETzsche]

pros compete in every other olympic sport these days, though

all it really means is that the world championships will take its place as the #1 most important amateur competition

[DeadLikeMe]

I think it is hilarious and should happen. There are a ton of pros out there who would be sure they would win gold, but their styles just aren't good for the amateur scoring system. Would be hilarious to see some of these top name pros get put out early by random Kazakhs and Cubans with purely amateur scoring exploitative styles.

[SplitSecond]

I think it is hilarious and should happen. There are a ton of pros out there who would be sure they would win gold, but their styles just aren't good for the amateur scoring system. Would be hilarious to see some of these top name pros get put out early by random Kazakhs and Cubans with purely amateur scoring exploitative styles.

Are they still gonna use the touch system? I was expecting 10 point system with the removal of the headgear.

[LetOutTheCage]

I dont think it would be quite as one-sided as lennox thinks, didnt Rigondeaux win a world title in only his 9th professional fight? A lot of these amateurs never turn pro despite having hundreds of Amateur fights (Eastern Europeans and Cubans being prime examples).

I think many professional's would also struggle to adept to the amateur format, especially if the have had a limited amateur career. It would be interesting if someone like Scott Quigg went into the Amateurs (only 12 amateur fights).