LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Professional boxers can compete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, if they qualify.
An overwhelming vote by the sport’s governing body, known as AIBA, on Wednesday allows any boxer to try to qualify next month and earn selection for their national team. But AIBA’s plan has been criticized across the professional ranks as a move toward dangerous mismatches between established boxers and inexperienced amateurs.
“At the moment it is difficult to anticipate (how many), but there will be some who want to get qualification,” AIBA President C.K. Wu said after a special meeting of member federations.