EXCLUSIVE REPORT
Imagine the magnificent likes of Manny Pacquiao fighting in the Olympics for his beloved Philippines or unbeaten Floyd Mayweather doing the same for America.
Or Mexico’s accomplished Antonio Margarito boxing in the Olympic Games and repping Mexico.
It’s a fistic fantasy right now but maybe this will happen down the line because revolutionary change is coming, and coming soon, to the international and American amateur boxing scenes.
Examiner.com and Boxingconfidential.com have learned exclusively that AIBA, the group which regulates both Olympic Games boxing and the annual world amateur tournaments, has approved a deal which will allow boxers from different countries, including the USA, to compete in professional bouts but still retain amateur eligibility for some amateur events including fighting in the quadrennial Olympiads.
This exciting new concept begins with a “draft” and AIBA-sanctioned professional boxing “teams.” The first three American franchises are going to be in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and the cards will feature a series of five-round bouts.
“What this means,” an insider connected to the venture told me, “is that a top American amateur boxer will be able to fight as pro, to get paid something and then still be able to compete for Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals. The same fighter, who might now be referred to as “a pro-am” boxer, would also be able to compete in, let’s say, a USA versus Germany or USA versus Cuba head-to-head international amateur show and then shift back to paid bouts.”
My inside source did not discuss the likeliehood of established pros, of distinguished world champions such as Pacman and Money May, going “both ways” and being able to do what NBA superstars from any country do, which is to play professionally and also play in the Olympic Games.
But I say, once you open the barn door to amateur boxers getting paid but retaining eligibility, how long can it be before every national Olympic committee will want its best fighters fighting under their flag?
And how about the increased TV revenue if elite boxers such as Mayweather and Pacquiao were featured in the Games?
In that case, I’d have to think the rest of the world would be decided underdogs to the Ukrainian team, at least in the super heavyweight class where it could have BOTH Waldimir and Vitali Klitschko fighting for medals. I predict plenty of walkovers in that bracket, lol.
And, while I’m on the topic, maybe it’s sneaky way to get the K Bros. to actually fight each other.
Too bad this kind of progressive move was not made back in the era of Muhammad Ali as the greatest pro heavyweight and Cuba’s Teofilo Stevenson dominating one Olympiad after another. That was always a dream fight for fans.
Given America’s dismal Olympic amateur boxing teams of recent vintage, change of any kind is welcome. I’m excited about this concept and these proactive changes.
More to come…
