Comments Thread For: Pro Boxers Can Compete in Olympics: Rule Change Approved

[The Big Dunn]

This is utterly ridiculous.

[MrRolltide91]

Smh.......

[Suckmedry]

And this being NSB, a lot of people in here are obviously convinced that "bums" can fight at the olympics

You don't get to the Olympic Games unless you are a very very good boxer, especially if you qualify from a country like Russia, Cuba, Kazakhstan etc

Obviously most 6 year olds could tell you that, but I do realise I'm talking to a very select group of idiots

[Eff Pandas]

Are any of you knuckleheads even watching the Olympics? I'm not & this is what I found out with my informative friend google much to my own surprise.

Beginning in the 1970s, amateurism requirements were gradually phased out of the Olympic Charter. After the 1988 Games, the IOC decided to make all professional athletes eligible for the Olympics, subject to the approval of the IFs. As of 2012, the only sports in which no professionals compete is boxing and wrestling, although even this requires a definition of amateurism based on fight rules rather than on payment, as some boxers and wrestlers receive cash prizes from their National Olympic Committees.

Boxing will either have pros or it won't be in the Olympics soon. Amateurs WILL NOT be in the Olympics soon whatever happens. There is writing on the wall folks. Quit living in fantasyland on this amateur stuff.

[Art-illery]

In all due honesty, some of these amateur boxers would EMBARRASS some professionals. Imagine a matchup between Carl Frampton and Robeisy Ramirez... Carl would get embarrassed (by the younger guy too).

[thack]

This is utterly ridiculous.

You've said it all!

[elfag]

what do you guys think has been happening with the cuban and soviet fighters for decades.


I dont think there will be any top name pro fighters doing it... once it sinks in that they wont be getting paid for this at all. People really thought pac was going to fight for free? nah, if youre going to train and then fight might as well get millions instead

[Eff Pandas]

This is ridiculous. I will be surprised if someone doesn't get seriously hurt.

It also severely limits the opportunities for the lower level guys to make a name for themselves before turning pro.

I agree with you 100%, and they're taking away head gear. Someone is getting hurt.

I hope the major sanctioning bodies ban any pro boxer that competes under this disgraceful organisation, AIBA.

I'm in agreement that pro boxing doesn't belong in the Olympics, but as for head guards they never fit correctly & do more halm then good, so good ridence!

Someone could get seriously hurt.

Watch some high profile boxer get **** on by an olympian and all of these guys: "I knew that would happen all along! Exposed!"

IMO the biggest danger about mixing pro boxing and olympic boxing isn't that the pros will hurt the olympians.

It's shady fights where a high profile pro favorite wins in "peculiar fashion" over an amateur. The protection big stars rely on nowadays will be a bit harder to arrange. Then again that also means probably none will even try.

A lot of being elite is the preparation and circumstances you're afforded, not just godlike skill.

You know who's to blame when something nasty happens.

Pretty de****able how this has been able to get through.

This kind of meddling in sports shows corruption and various forces at work changing things without really focusing on what's best for the sport, athletes, and fans. Just look at F1 in recent years, constant changes unsettling drivers, teams, and fans understanding.

To think of all the boxing regulations...and now they are effectively going to let a pro boxer like Wladimir Klitschko beat down a 20 year old amateur, without head gear.

I'm not hearing of any reassurances to the contrary that kind've scenario couldn't happen.

Joke!

They should have made the people calling this go 3 rounds each with an amateur then pro.

Anybody left breathing would surely have voted differently.

f#cking pathetic.


i'd have no problem with pros fighting each other in an amateur format. this will lead to grown men fighting kids. they don't even wear head gear any more. these kids will get absolutely creamed.

can you imagine a 20 year old kid who has boxed for 8 years fighting gennady golovkin WITHOUT HEADGEAR AND WITHOUT GETTING PAID?!? that's evidently a possiblity now


anybody who has been watching amateur boxingwithout head gear knows thaty these kids are getting rocked easier. i've even seen some legit knockouts, which were pretty rare before the head gear was removed

This is utterly ridiculous.

Smh.......

You've said it all!

Beginning in the 1970s, amateurism requirements were gradually phased out of the Olympic Charter. After the 1988 Games, the IOC decided to make all professional athletes eligible for the Olympics, subject to the approval of the IFs. As of 2012, the only sports in which no professionals compete is boxing and wrestling, although even this requires a definition of amateurism based on fight rules rather than on payment, as some boxers and wrestlers receive cash prizes from their National Olympic Committees.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympi...rofessionalism

Hate to break it to you guys, but the Olympics isn't what you think it is. I admit I was even surprised to learn that boxing & wrestling are the only two sports that don't allow pros currently. But its obvious that either pro boxers will be in the Olympics or there will be no boxing at the Olympics. And Amatuers are going to be out of the Olympics in boxing & all sports very soon. That is the reality.

[The Big Dunn]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympi...rofessionalism

Hate to break it to you guys, but the Olympics isn't what you think it is. I admit I was even surprised to learn that boxing & wrestling are the only two sports that don't allow pros currently. But its obvious that either pro boxers will be in the Olympics or there will be no boxing at the Olympics. And Amatuers are going to be out of the Olympics in boxing & all sports very soon. That is the reality.

not necessarily. Pros are in other sports because the US has this warped definition of amateurism that other countries do not have. so we let US pros in because other countries already had pros in sports like basketball and baseball.

From a boxing standpoint, there seems to be a consistent definition of amateur across the board that hasn't resulted in professional grown men fighting college kids.

[Art-illery]

what do you guys think has been happening with the cuban and soviet fighters for decades.


I dont think there will be any top name pro fighters doing it... once it sinks in that they wont be getting paid for this at all. People really thought pac was going to fight for free? nah, if youre going to train and then fight might as well get millions instead

There was a time when Soviet boxers couldn't even get paid to box for their countries, now they can. Even today, Cuban boxers can't fight professionally without defecting (that's why you see some of them boxing at this level well into their 30s). If these amateurs are going to box professionals, then where are their fight purses? Those Olympic gold medals lose their worth rather quickly for the boxers that remain living in poverty. Staying as an "amateur" boxer may no longer be worth it in the future if a lot of well-known pro boxers are going to be fighting for gold medals too.