Amateur boxing and the future.

[stujones]

I know it is one really for the amateur boxing forum - but I think the potential ramifications of the POSSIBILITY of no amateur boxing in the 2028 Olympic games is huge.

Think about the biggest / second biggest (between him and Fury) box office star in the UK currently - Olympic Gold Medal. Eddie Hearn's first big outing was Haye vs Harrison (Olympic Gold Medal). One of the biggest UK PPV fights in 2022 involved an Olympic Medalist, the big chase for the contract post Olympics.

Of course its not impossibility to be a star without being an Olympian (e.g. Tyson Fury) but I cannot imagine any promoter asking their fighter to go down the Tyson Fury route to stardom - Fury was boxing in leisure centres for the most part before his fight with Klitchscko and his own backstory was why he became huge.

I think the lost of Olympic boxing will have a huge impact on the future of the pro game. I think we will possibly see more "celebrity" based promoters then who will use their own platform (or ego) to promote as the boxers themselves will have a limited platform.

Perhaps the Olympics isn't quite what is was in terms of a platform with most of the live boxing now on streaming services as opposed to being on the Beeb and also the Beeb itself not getting the 20+ million viewing figures for the Olympic coverage on years go by, but there is still something about the likes of Buffer / Lennon Jnr announcing "this 2012 Olympic gold medalist".

[Coco]

People will stay amateur for a shorter amount of time, won't be able to secure the big signing on fees.

Getting your apprenticeship in the pros isn't a bad idea, I think it's a bad thing turning over after you are 25, your amateur style is too ingrained, and you have no time to lose

[stujones]

People will stay amateur for a shorter amount of time, won't be able to secure the big signing on fees.

Getting your apprenticeship in the pros isn't a bad idea, I think it's a bad thing turning over after you are 25, your amateur style is too ingrained, and you have no time to lose

Yes and of course the Olympic funding from the lottery will be a huge loss. Of course there will always be both amateur and professional boxing but I also think it could have an impact on any person wanting to go into promoting / managing unless they have a profile themselves.

[Spud]

I know it is one really for the amateur boxing forum - but I think the potential ramifications of the POSSIBILITY of no amateur boxing in the 2028 Olympic games is huge.

Sad, but so true.

[tonyevs]

The Olympics is only one competition - even if (arguably) the most prestigious.

The IBA etc championships will still identify the stars of tomorrow.

UK sports funding is not merely based on the Olympics .. worlds, european, etc all count

[Spud]

The Olympics is only one competition - even if (arguably) the most prestigious.

The IBA etc championships will still identify the stars of tomorrow.

UK sports funding is not merely based on the Olympics .. worlds, european, etc all count

Surely with it being so prestigious the loss of boxing in the olympics is significant.

[The Gratest]

A far cry from the last time the Olympics were held in LA in '84 and the names on that US boxing team that won 9 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze (albeit without the USSR, East Germany and Cuba participating).
That's my earliest memory of Olympic boxing. I can remember watching Tillman vs the Italian guy in the semis and the controversy after Tillman won.
I also have vague memories of Bobby Wells KO'ing his opponent and getting a bronze for GB.

Anyway, not to worry, here are some of the sports that'll be taking place instead:

Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash have been officially included as additional sports on the programme for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

[leejonesjnr]

Boxing won’t be leaving, just IBA

[1362403]

Boxing won’t be leaving, just IBA

I really want this.
backrooms game