Regular Pros to fight at OLympics

[Tarquin Tarpaulin IV]

Top professional boxers could finally be granted the right to compete in the Olympics under new proposals being considered by the sport's governing body AIBA.
Restrictions which currently rule professional fighters out of the Games are set to be abolished at an AIBA Commissions meeting in Manchester this week, Press Association Sport has reported.
Under current AIBA rules introduced in 2013, professional boxers are eligible to go to the Olympics provided they have had less than 15 paid bouts and sign a short-term contract committing themselves to AIBA's professional arm, APB.
However, it is understood the failure of APB to make the desired impact, coupled with AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu's relentless drive towards a full merger of the former professional and amateur codes, has put the Olympic eligibity criteria firmly back on top of the agenda.
The new plan could allow any professional boxer - irrespective of age or experience - to become instantly available to represent their country at an Olympics provided they sign with their respective national body.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/boxing/2016/022 ... -olympics/

[jamesmcdonnell]

Sounds a bad idea to me. Hardened pro's taking on amateurs, there could be some serious kickings.