Boxing legend Mike Tyson has criticised the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) decision to allow pro boxers to participate in the Rio Olympics 2016. The boxing body has remained confident of seeing pro boxers participate for the first time ever in the mega sporting event.
AIBA President Dr. Ching Kuo Wu of Taiwan, as stated by Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) Executive Director Ed Picson, "sounds dead sure" that the AIBA congress would make the changes as he had "spoken to all the national federations and there have been no objections." Picson was quoted as saying by the Standard.
Tyson, the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles, meanwhile, has stated that the move to include pro boxers in the Olympics is completely "ridiculous" and "foolish."
"It's ridiculous, it's foolish, and some of the pro fighters are going to get beat by the amateurs. It's just going to happen, I really believe that," Tyson, 49, has been quoted as saying by Reuters.
"If they are like the amateur fighters that I was fighting in the 80s, they are going to beat some of the champions. It's just going to happen. These guys will be fast for three or four rounds, and these guys are not going to be accustomed to that."
The boxing association of the Philippines, meanwhile, is considering featuring the country's most decorated boxer Manny Pacquiao at the Rio Olympics 2016, only if he decides to compete in the light welterweight boxing category in the event. The Philippines has earned a berth in the weight category in the boxing event at the Olympics.
"Let me know (of Pacquiao's decision) because he (Manny) must decide first, then we talk (about a possible wild-card entry)," Dr. Wu told Picson, as quoted by the Standard.
