By Gerardo Granados: In the recent years AIBA has had major changes on their rules. A couple of years back it was the removal of the head gear a controversial issue for many participants on the amateur level. Even if I strongly believe that the change in the scoring system from the previous one, which was complex and often was accused from having the wrong winner, to the much similar current 10-point system used in the professional level to be a big improvement, I really cannot agree with prize fighters to qualify for the Olympics.
Other sports have done it, such as professional tennis players and football teams can now include players above the age limit. The only reason that I can think of to do so, is to try to obtain more attention from the audience, which could translate into an increase on TV ratting. But, are athletes winning extra money for winning a gold medal? Isn’t the Olympic spirit based on fair competition and honor to the country?
I am worried, because to me, it is a really unfair advantage for a seasoned pro boxer to fight against an amateur boxer. So, I asked to the World Boxing Council if there is a possibility to penalize the professional boxers who participate on the Olympics by removing them from the rankings and to ban them to fight for the WBC title.
Boxing is a serious contact sport and AIBA was supposed to be in charge of the amateur level but now have crossed the line into the pro level with the APB promotions. AIBA was created for one reason and it was to regulate “amateur boxing”.
It is about time the major boxing organizations to take action to find the most viable solution.
There have been many great boxers who after had a great amateur career became professionals and had big success, great Champions like Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier just to mention a few. The amateurs must be the first step towards to the professional level. A pro boxer can be described as a prospect or a solid prospect, contender, top ten contender and world championship level fighter.
It was reported that the former heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko showed interest to participate in the next summer Olympic Games. Do the readers believe it is fair for the young amateur boxers? Does this benefit the ego of a few pro boxers and hurt the dreams and aspirations of many amateur boxers?
2012 super heavyweight Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua has 15 bouts at the pro level, but still looks raw to be considered an elite level prize fighter. Can you imagine Anthony Joshua as an amateur four years ago, fighting against Wladimir Klitschko? Would you as a trainer allow an amateur to go against a seasoned crafty experienced prize fighter?
I guess many fight fans don’t care about boxing politics, but the rest must understand the risks involved to mix amateurs and pros in a single competition.
I think it is a big mistake, and if any young amateur boxer results hurt, I will totally blame it on AIBA. But, what about the readers, do you agree?
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