Professional boxers to become eligible to compete at Rio Olympics

oxing gloves hang on the wall at the Urbina Westside Boxing Gym where Israel Vasquez Two-time Junior Featherweight World Champion had a workout session on September 29, 2009 i
© Getty Images
AIBA reveals that professional boxers could soon be eligible to compete in this summer's Olympics in Rio.

AIBA president Dr Ching-Kuo Wu has claimed that professional boxers could become eligible to compete at this summer's Olympics in Rio.

The sport's world governing body is pushing new proposals that would end the rule that full-time boxers cannot represent their country at an Olympic Games.

"We want the best boxers to come to the Olympic Games," Wu told PA. "It is AIBA's 70th birthday, and we want something to change - not after four years, but now.

"It is an IOC policy to have the best athletes in the Games, and of the international federations, AIBA is probably the only one without professional athletes in the Olympics.

"We already have our own professionals, APB and WSB boxers, in the Games, [and] we will go further."

The proposals need to be ratified by AIBA's executive commission.

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on while there's a break during the game against against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on November 24, 2015 in Oakland, California.
Read Next:
Bryant rules out Olympics participation
>
Related Video