Professional boxers in Olympics is a bad idea, say fighters

[TitoFan]

Why don't you want to see the most talented boxers in the Olympics? I thought the Olympics was there to showcase the very best every sport has to offer....well if professional basketball players are playing Olympic basketball, pro hockey players playing Olympic hockey, pro soccer players playing Olympic soccer, then why no pro boxers? Why hold boxing back?

The "other sports" argument, huh? So you're one of those people who cheered when, embarrassed by having the rest of the world catching up with the U.S. in Olympic basketball.... the U.S. persuaded the Olympic committee to let the Jordans, the Magics, the Birds, invade the Olympic team, forming that famous "Dream Team"..... and turning the Olympic basketball competition into a farce. If you feel that was a good change to the Olympics, then we have nothing more to discuss. The premise under which the Olympics existed for many many years before the Dream Team became violated, and now it's looked at as the norm. I liked it back when college basketball players were out there fighting and scratching for their gold medal.

[El Kabong]

Why don't you want to see the most talented boxers in the Olympics? I thought the Olympics was there to showcase the very best every sport has to offer....well if professional basketball players are playing Olympic basketball, pro hockey players playing Olympic hockey, pro soccer players playing Olympic soccer, then why no pro boxers? Why hold boxing back?

The "other sports" argument, huh? So you're one of those people who cheered when, embarrassed by having the rest of the world catching up with the U.S. in Olympic basketball.... the U.S. persuaded the Olympic committee to let the Jordans, the Magics, the Birds, invade the Olympic team, forming that famous "Dream Team"..... and turning the Olympic basketball competition into a farce. If you feel that was a good change to the Olympics, then we have nothing more to discuss. The premise under which the Olympics existed for many many years before the Dream Team became violated, and now it's looked at as the norm. I liked it back when college basketball players were out there fighting and scratching for their gold medal.

Yeah, about that....remember 1980 "Do You Believe In Miracles" ? That was an amateur US hockey team vs Russian professionals who somehow retained amateur status....soooo yeah.


And Usain Bolt is a professional and in soccer Professionals!

The Olympics should be about the best athletes period

[TitoFan]

Why don't you want to see the most talented boxers in the Olympics? I thought the Olympics was there to showcase the very best every sport has to offer....well if professional basketball players are playing Olympic basketball, pro hockey players playing Olympic hockey, pro soccer players playing Olympic soccer, then why no pro boxers? Why hold boxing back?

The "other sports" argument, huh? So you're one of those people who cheered when, embarrassed by having the rest of the world catching up with the U.S. in Olympic basketball.... the U.S. persuaded the Olympic committee to let the Jordans, the Magics, the Birds, invade the Olympic team, forming that famous "Dream Team"..... and turning the Olympic basketball competition into a farce. If you feel that was a good change to the Olympics, then we have nothing more to discuss. The premise under which the Olympics existed for many many years before the Dream Team became violated, and now it's looked at as the norm. I liked it back when college basketball players were out there fighting and scratching for their gold medal.

Yeah, about that....remember 1980 "Do You Believe In Miracles" ? That was an amateur US hockey team vs Russian professionals who somehow retained amateur status....soooo yeah.


And Usain Bolt is a professional and in soccer Professionals!

The Olympics should be about the best athletes period

That 1980 Miracle..... one of the most memorable events in Olympic sports history to this date.

Mentioning Usain Bolt is entering a blurry area, inasmuch as track and field athletes in other countries get paid, which technically makes them professionals. But frankly... most of them have day jobs to go along with their stipends as athletes.

And your opinion on what Olympics should be is well noted... but not a unanimous one by any means. It blurs that line that used to separate the amateurs from the pros. Actually... erases the line is more like it. I don't see what was wrong with the original concept... it worked well for over 100 years.

[El Kabong]

Why don't you want to see the most talented boxers in the Olympics? I thought the Olympics was there to showcase the very best every sport has to offer....well if professional basketball players are playing Olympic basketball, pro hockey players playing Olympic hockey, pro soccer players playing Olympic soccer, then why no pro boxers? Why hold boxing back?

The "other sports" argument, huh? So you're one of those people who cheered when, embarrassed by having the rest of the world catching up with the U.S. in Olympic basketball.... the U.S. persuaded the Olympic committee to let the Jordans, the Magics, the Birds, invade the Olympic team, forming that famous "Dream Team"..... and turning the Olympic basketball competition into a farce. If you feel that was a good change to the Olympics, then we have nothing more to discuss. The premise under which the Olympics existed for many many years before the Dream Team became violated, and now it's looked at as the norm. I liked it back when college basketball players were out there fighting and scratching for their gold medal.

Yeah, about that....remember 1980 "Do You Believe In Miracles" ? That was an amateur US hockey team vs Russian professionals who somehow retained amateur status....soooo yeah.


And Usain Bolt is a professional and in soccer Professionals!

The Olympics should be about the best athletes period

That 1980 Miracle..... one of the most memorable events in Olympic sports history to this date.

Mentioning Usain Bolt is entering a blurry area, inasmuch as track and field athletes in other countries get paid, which technically makes them professionals. But frankly... most of them have day jobs to go along with their stipends as athletes.

And your opinion on what Olympics should be is well noted... but not a unanimous one by any means. It blurs that line that used to separate the amateurs from the pros. Actually... erases the line is more like it. I don't see what was wrong with the original concept... it worked well for over 100 years.

Professional sports and the money it makes is a relatively new thing, the Olympics will either adapt or fade in relevance

[Andre]

Cuba has always been different because their best fighters often practically had to stay in the am's, it was their only good life and career choice.

Often? Try ALWAYS, and USSR very same and China very same (with subtle changes recently).

As for no one is getting hurt...basketball is a non-contact sport, try something a bit more physical...are amateurs allowed in/competitive in Olympic Hockey? Are people being hurt there? Are amateur boxers guaranteed to be safe without adding professionals in?



I think the main issue everyone is missing is that there would be more eyes on Olympic boxing if professionals were involved and when you're attempting to grow a sport this could help the product.....it would definitely help out the United States' boxing program, imagine it, amateurs getting to learn from professionals, professional trainers, professional sponsors....I fail to see the downside other than the "we don't want a 16 year old fighting his first fight against a 32 year old current title holder" which I'm sorry is a bogus claim, amateur boxing wouldn't allow that fight to take place.

So why not have pro fights with pro refs in one division of Olympics and also continue with amateur fights as is.Then if an amateur wants to move up into that world he can try out for it and change up along with his career.

Pros are going to go all out like it is the last round in long fight, all except they are fresh and going for a finish.

It sure will be interesting for all of us to watch this, but it is going to be more dangerous for some and not the other, experience of deep wars against none is going to be a real factor.

[Andre]

Why don't you want to see the most talented boxers in the Olympics? I thought the Olympics was there to showcase the very best every sport has to offer....well if professional basketball players are playing Olympic basketball, pro hockey players playing Olympic hockey, pro soccer players playing Olympic soccer, then why no pro boxers? Why hold boxing back?

The "other sports" argument, huh? So you're one of those people who cheered when, embarrassed by having the rest of the world catching up with the U.S. in Olympic basketball.... the U.S. persuaded the Olympic committee to let the Jordans, the Magics, the Birds, invade the Olympic team, forming that famous "Dream Team"..... and turning the Olympic basketball competition into a farce. If you feel that was a good change to the Olympics, then we have nothing more to discuss. The premise under which the Olympics existed for many many years before the Dream Team became violated, and now it's looked at as the norm. I liked it back when college basketball players were out there fighting and scratching for their gold medal.

Yeah, about that....remember 1980 "Do You Believe In Miracles" ? That was an amateur US hockey team vs Russian professionals who somehow retained amateur status....soooo yeah.


And Usain Bolt is a professional and in soccer Professionals!

The Olympics should be about the best athletes period

So, no amateurs allowed. End of?

Change the whole system to pro in the boxing then, sack all the refs bring in all the pro ones and officials and bring in the real thing with the longer rounds and full fights.

[p4pking]

That's a point I wish I had made :P

[El Kabong]

So, no amateurs allowed. End of?

Change the whole system to pro in the boxing then, sack all the refs bring in all the pro ones and officials and bring in the real thing with the longer rounds and full fights.

God damn it, Andre, I expect you to be better than this.


Did I say "no amateurs"?
Did I say "only professionals"?
Did I say "change the whole system"?


(all those should be answered "No") Then why act like that's what I'm arguing for?



If professional boxers wish to fight in the Olympics then they are going to (like everyone else does) abide by the Olympic rules. This will mean yes, "amateur style" fights with "amateur style" scoring, and "amateur style" refs, and "amateur style" rules.

I said "the Olympics should have the best athletes"....and yet people STILL want to disagree with me. Why? Why shouldn't the Olympics have the best athletes participating? Explain yourselves. If an amateur wins Gold over pros, then all the more power to them! If a pro wins, then whoopty do they aren't getting big time money going to the Olympics now are they? They are participating in a sport for the glory of their respective nation and not for personal financial gain, though I am certain grudge matches could be made and PPV's can be made from rematches from the Olympic fights.

Erislandy Savon nephew of Felix Savon....he's a rival of Anthony Joshua and the only time we'd see them fight again is if Anthony gets int he Olympics again or if Savon defects and that is very unlikely

[Spicoli]

Didn't realize the alphabet boys said they will remove rankings and suspend fighters who go Ranking I get but how does a sanctioning body suspend a fighter.

[Silkeyjoe]

Hassan Ndam and Amnat Ruenroeng are the pnly pros I know who are trying to qualify. Ndam at 81kg opposed to his pro weight of 75kg. Hed be in with Joe Ward and TBE Julio La Cruz.

[El Kabong]

Pro loses to amateur in Olympic Qualifying
http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/pro-...rnament-344876


Sooooo what did we learn?

[Silkeyjoe]

Pro loses to amateur in Olympic Qualifying
http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/pro-...rnament-344876


Sooooo what did we learn?

A 28-15 pro is not what people were argueing against. Hes not a full time boxer and would work another job too.

[El Kabong]

Pro loses to amateur in Olympic Qualifying
http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/pro-...rnament-344876


Sooooo what did we learn?

A 28-15 pro is not what people were argueing against. Hes not a full time boxer and would work another job too.

Glen Johnson was still working in construction when he fought and beat Roy Jones Jr.....there aren't a whole gaggle of people who ONLY box for a living. And again look at guys like the Cubans Guillermo Rigondieux....he was 2-0 when he won his first title, you think he couldn't beat up any professional in the amateurs? Think Stevenson or Savon would have had trouble with professionals as amateurs?

The difference in status isn't always the key to who will win or lose. Guys who are amateurs with experience aren't going to be pushovers for every single professional out there.

[El Kabong]

Amateur boxer knocks out unbeaten pro in the first round, three more pros lose in all | Boxing News | Fightnews


Amateur knocks out undefeated pro?


Tell me I was wrong now

[Fenster]

Those pro's ain't top-class.

Hassan N’Dam, the biggest name I have seen entered, bashed up a 21-year-old American in the final qualifying round.