Professional boxers to become eligible to compete at Rio Olympics

AIBA president Dr Ching-Kuo Wu has claimed that professional boxers could become eligible to compete at this summer's Olympics in Rio.

The sport's world governing body is pushing new proposals that would end the rule that full-time boxers cannot represent their country at an Olympic Games.

"We want the best boxers to come to the Olympic Games," Wu told PA. "It is AIBA's 70th birthday, and we want something to change - not after four years, but now.

"It is an IOC policy to have the best athletes in the Games, and of the international federations, AIBA is probably the only one without professional athletes in the Olympics.

"We already have our own professionals, APB and WSB boxers, in the Games, [and] we will go further."

The proposals need to be ratified by AIBA's executive commission.

Written by
Danielle Joynson