Former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan has described the AIBA’s move to allow professional fighters to compete at Rio 2016 as a 'publicity' stunt.
That's after AIBA President Wu Ching-Kuo announced that he wants to overhaul the association's eligibility rules to try to attract some of the biggest names in the sport to take part in the Olympics.
Ireland’s World Champion Michael Conlan has said on Twitter that the presence of professionals wouldn’t affect his gold-medal prospects.
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[/raw]I do not care, not one single pro my weight will beat me over 3 rounds.. https://t.co/klJGzGFv2u
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) February 24, 2016
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[/raw]Pro boxers at the Olympics? This is all a ploy to get Zou Shiming to Rio and keep me "Paddy Bronze"! 🙈 @AIBA_Boxing
— Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) February 24, 2016
McGuigan suggests that the idea hasn't been fully thought-through by the governing body.
“I don’t see how it can work. I really don’t see it being a great success,” said McGuigan.
“You might get one or two guys who’d like to go to the Olympics and maybe they haven’t achieved that in their former career as an amateur.
“But getting the superstars of the sport to come back down and want to box in the Olympic games? I just don’t think it’s feasible.
“The main issue, I think, is reducing your ability to fight (to the) 12 rounds, where people rely on the longer distance and getting their tactical plan to work
“To fight that short three three-minute rounds, and gearing your body and physiologically to cope with that, would be too difficult and too short a space of time.
“Maybe it would be practical in four years’ time.
“I just don’t think it’s going to work and all it’s doing is confusing the sport even more.”
The Irish high performance squad have already qualified four fighters for Rio - Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, Steven Donnelly and Joe Ward - with several other fighters expected to secure an Olympic place before the summer.
