WSB - Eligibility Change

[TheQuietStorm]

Does anyone know why the WSB changed their eligibility guidelines from accepting professional boxer who have turned pro after the 2008 Olympic Games to not accepting professional fighters at all?

http://www.aiba.org/en-US/WSB/WSB_Boxers.aspx
BOXER SELECTION PROCESS
In terms of eligibility for participation in WSB for the inaugural season 2010/2011, the following boxers will be eligible:

• All AIBA amatuer boxers;
• All boxers who turned professional after the Olympic Games 2008.

http://www.worldseriesboxing.com/boxers ... lines.aspx
Boxer Eligibility

The Draft will include all boxers who have not been selected by one of the 12 WSB franchise teams.

To be eligible for selection in the WSB draft, a boxer must meet the following requirements:

* Be a member of a recognized AIBA national member federation and have any contracts countersigned by his national boxing federation.

* Must not have competed in any bout as a professional boxer.

[JMac]

Does anyone know why the WSB changed their eligibility guidelines from accepting professional boxer who have turned pro after the 2008 Olympic Games to not accepting professional fighters at all?

I don't know why they made the changes but that seems to be AIBA's mo, they seem to be always moving the goal line to suit them. They have been making a lot of changes without explanation including the policies of who will officiate the WSB.
Personally, I just wish they would change the stupid electronic scoring system now in place for amateur boxing before amateur/Olympic boxing is ruined for life. The past two Olympics saw many long time fans of amateur boxing say they had enough. Maybe the WSB with it's pro boxing/scoring will help bring the amateur scoring and boxing style back to what it used to be. AIBA just needs to get rid of the corrupt officials. They know who they are but only get rid of the ones they want when it is politically suitable for them.

[atlanta coach]

i wonder about the WSB. From what I understand there allowed to compete in 1 national Amateur tournament a year with the option of competing in more. I can imagine having even an experienced 16 year old (new open level) boxer in one of these tournaments and him having to compete with a WSB Boxer in his mid to late twenties, who is use to competing without a headgear in 8oz. gloves, who is living in a franchise city an paid to concentrate on just boxing and is competing all over the world. If you run a Pal program, Parks an Rec, or any program affiliated with city govt. or a board that you have to answer to , it would be hard to explain that discrepency.. Its hard enough to explain that a 16 even 17 yr. old (minor) can compete against a 20 even 30 something not to mention now they can compete against a legitimate professional boxer. For the most a like the concept of the WSB but it will bring a lot of change.