Professionals, Khan & The Olympics

[Taansend]

Just listening to Amir talk about competing at the Olympics nowadays, stating that he would be more mature and better equipped to handle it.

Of course, he made his name at the 2004 Olympics as a 17 year old phenom and won the hearts of the UK (well most of them, me included).

But if the pro's had been allowed back in Athens Khan might well have been up against Barrera, Morales, Corrales, Casamayor, Freitas, Mayweather, Gatti or Hatton. These are the people who were around between SuperFeather & Lightwelter back in 2004.

And there's a good chance he might not have even qualified for those Olympics - or even if he had he might well have been kayoed early on.

And then he wouldn't have got that tremendous publicity to turn pro with. And he might have been matched a little harder at the start of his career and after 3 knockouts in his first 6 six will have drifted away from the sport & would now be an Assistant Manager at Nando's in Bolton. And the size of Naz.

And somewhere in the UK, or anywhere else in the World today, there's a 17 year old kid with a shot at getting to the Olympics whose dream will not be realised because a Khan or an Alvarez or Crawford decides he wants a bite at the apple.

Obviously this thread is a tad tongue in cheek (he probably would have worked at an Estate Agents "I've got a lovely starter home in Eccles. Perfect for a young couple like yourselves") but my main point is that allowing experienced pro's to enter the Olympics tarnishes the Olympic dream.

In fact I'll go as far to suggest that the Olympics should only be open to under 25.

[Stuarty]

Allowing pros to enter is a load of nonsense and goes against what the Olympics are all about. A lot of good young amatuer will end up being overlooked for bigger name pros. I don't agree with the age limit though. You get people who take up the sport late and also some of the great Cubans who'll never get the chance to turn pro etc...

[Taansend]

I don't agree with the age limit though. You get people who take up the sport late and also some of the great Cubans who'll never get the chance to turn pro etc...

I did take that into consideration Stu - and just threw the age thing out there at the last minute for discussion.

On the Cuban point though, I think that by the time 2020 rolls around they'll be fairly free of the restraints that the country lives under now.

As for the Olympics I am against pros and also football, golf, basketball, tennis etc etc being at the games.

I would like to see a return of synchronised swimming though.

[Stuarty]

I don't agree with the age limit though. You get people who take up the sport late and also some of the great Cubans who'll never get the chance to turn pro etc...

I did take that into consideration Stu - and just threw the age thing out there at the last minute for discussion.

On the Cuban point though, I think that by the time 2020 rolls around they'll be fairly free of the restraints that the country lives under now.

As for the Olympics I am against pros and also football, golf, basketball, tennis etc etc being at the games.

I would like to see a return of synchronised swimming though.

Hope you're right about the Cubans. Would be a good addition to the pro ranks. The only thing I really watch religiously at the Olympics is the boxing although the scoring system often has me tearing my hair out

[Taansend]

I don't agree with the age limit though. You get people who take up the sport late and also some of the great Cubans who'll never get the chance to turn pro etc...

I did take that into consideration Stu - and just threw the age thing out there at the last minute for discussion.

On the Cuban point though, I think that by the time 2020 rolls around they'll be fairly free of the restraints that the country lives under now.

As for the Olympics I am against pros and also football, golf, basketball, tennis etc etc being at the games.

I would like to see a return of synchronised swimming though.

Hope you're right about the Cubans. Would be a good addition to the pro ranks. The only thing I really watch religiously at the Olympics is the boxing although the scoring system often has me tearing my hair out

One of the reasons I moved back to Florida from California was because I think Cuba will open up & there will be casinos there again. I was looking to get in on that action.

But I'm out of the casino industry now so that doesn't matter. But I still think that each year they'll become more 'western' for better or worse.

[Bodyshot3]

The AIBA just seems to have lost the proverbial plot and does not seem content with it's current, clear remit...there's a deliberate policy of nibbling away at the pro game and replacing it with their own version-vision of top-flight boxing.

There's good, commendable ambition and then there's moving into a manor you are not qualified remotely qualified to run.

I actually like the whole WSB gig - a sort of really good halfway house that allows amateur fighters to live and fight like pros and not to have worry about who is paying for the next gas bill or train ticket - but seasoned pros at the Olympics is just daft.

[Larrylefthook]

I don't think Khan will be that bothered about the Olympics when he finds out he had to fight Kell Brook for the GB spot, for FREE!

[bigped]

You need to be an aiba pro and Max 10 pro bouts to go to olympics