Professional boxers in Olympics is a bad idea, say fighters

[Primo Carnera]

Khan thinks it's a good idea though. Just about sums the cunt up really!
Maybe he'll fight at HW for another circus show.

[Mark TKO]

the craziest sports decision I have ever heard

Lewis said something about put me in with an amateur in my prime and them with no headgear and it ends badly - sums it up

[El Kabong]

Allow me to play Devil's Advocate



I think it might be just the kind of shake up the sport needs....if professionals are allowed in the Olympics (which is allowed for other sports: soccer, basketball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, cycling etc) it might stir up some interest in that there will be no money prize (not that would compete with a professional purse I am certain), but there will be the prize of gold. When promoters keep the biggest fights from happening until nobody cares anymore, an Olympic style tournament is a fucking brilliant idea! Let's say GGG was in the Olympics and Andre Ward was in the Olympics....all one would have to do in order to get them to fight each other is for them to be in the same amateur weight class and boom fight MADE.


People are viewing this like amateur boxers would even make the Olympic teams if professionals were allowed to box....would an amateur make an U-23 side that are going to the Olympics for soccer? Would an amateur make the US basketball team? Would an amateur make the Canadian hockey team? It's highly doubtful! Now SOME nations might send some young kids to the games, but fucking Christ sakes man Felix Savon was in his 30's and battering teenagers at the Olympics what's the difference with allowing a professional?

[X]

in general terms, it sounds a bit silly

BUT .... truly elite amateur boxers, who have mastered the pace of fighting fewer rounds, the scoring system and tactics, plus the very different refereeing - and who have been doing it for years - would beat most pros at this game

We are acting like they would be pissed on or killed. That's pretty disrespectful to amateur boxing. I think most medals would be won by amateurs

Does anyone really think that the likes of Teofilio Stevenson or Felix Savon would have been cannon fodder for a pro back in the day?

[TitoFan]

Allow me to play Devil's Advocate



I think it might be just the kind of shake up the sport needs....if professionals are allowed in the Olympics (which is allowed for other sports: soccer, basketball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, cycling etc) it might stir up some interest in that there will be no money prize (not that would compete with a professional purse I am certain), but there will be the prize of gold. When promoters keep the biggest fights from happening until nobody cares anymore, an Olympic style tournament is a fucking brilliant idea! Let's say GGG was in the Olympics and Andre Ward was in the Olympics....all one would have to do in order to get them to fight each other is for them to be in the same amateur weight class and boom fight MADE.


People are viewing this like amateur boxers would even make the Olympic teams if professionals were allowed to box....would an amateur make an U-23 side that are going to the Olympics for soccer? Would an amateur make the US basketball team? Would an amateur make the Canadian hockey team? It's highly doubtful! Now SOME nations might send some young kids to the games, but fucking Christ sakes man Felix Savon was in his 30's and battering teenagers at the Olympics what's the difference with allowing a professional?

I can appreciate your wanting to be Devil's Advocate, but..........

[El Kabong]

Allow me to play Devil's Advocate



I think it might be just the kind of shake up the sport needs....if professionals are allowed in the Olympics (which is allowed for other sports: soccer, basketball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, cycling etc) it might stir up some interest in that there will be no money prize (not that would compete with a professional purse I am certain), but there will be the prize of gold. When promoters keep the biggest fights from happening until nobody cares anymore, an Olympic style tournament is a fucking brilliant idea! Let's say GGG was in the Olympics and Andre Ward was in the Olympics....all one would have to do in order to get them to fight each other is for them to be in the same amateur weight class and boom fight MADE.


People are viewing this like amateur boxers would even make the Olympic teams if professionals were allowed to box....would an amateur make an U-23 side that are going to the Olympics for soccer? Would an amateur make the US basketball team? Would an amateur make the Canadian hockey team? It's highly doubtful! Now SOME nations might send some young kids to the games, but fucking Christ sakes man Felix Savon was in his 30's and battering teenagers at the Olympics what's the difference with allowing a professional?

I can appreciate your wanting to be Devil's Advocate, but..........

Felix Savon, 33 years old...."amateur"

[TitoFan]

Yes. He's also Cuban. What's your point?

[El Kabong]

Yes. He's also Cuban. What's your point?

Glad you asked.


Did Felix Savon have a job outside of "amateur" boxing?

Did Felix Savon have to do anything other than train for boxing to provide food, clothing, and shelter for himself and his family?

If the answer is "no" to both of those things then how could Savon be classified as an "amateur"?



But I DO so love your dismissive attitude about it, I have just missed that more than you can ever know.

[SlimTrae]

Khan thinks it's a good idea though. Just about sums the cunt up really!
Maybe he'll fight at HW for another circus show.

Agreed. I saw the khan thread before this one.