Things are getting back to normal like it was years ago
The move to professionalize Olympic boxing and make it more fan-friendly is underway. For the first time in over 30 years, boxers will compete without protective headgear at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, a decision sure to increase interest in amateur boxing, even if the push to make the move is viewed by amateur officials as safety-related to reduce concussions.
The shift follows an effort to allow professional fighters to compete in Olympic boxing following the lead of basketball and other sports.
“Professional boxers will be at Rio: I don’t know how many but they will be,” International Olympic Boxing Association (AIBA) President Wu Ching-kuo told Reuters on Tuesday of an idea that will be put to a vote in May at a meeting of the federation