USA Boxing will not change its Olympic team selection process for the Rio Games after the sport’s international governing body opened Olympic qualification to any professional boxer Wednesday.
“USA Boxing appreciates AIBA’s continuing efforts toward the evolution of international boxing, and we recognize that the admission of professional boxers is an inevitable development,” USA Boxing said in a statement. “However, USA Boxing’s Olympic Selection procedures, on which our amateur athletes have relied for the past two years, preclude us from making the last minute changes that would be required to invite professionals to compete. We believe that many other countries face similar difficulties, and in fairness to our athletes who have already been selected to fulfill their Olympic dreams, we abstained from voting for the proposed change of the eligibility rules.