It sounds crazy, but Manny Pacquiao could be in action at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio if a new rule change allowing professional boxers to compete is approved.
In a rather large move for the Olympics, future Hall of Fame legend Manny Pacquiao has been personally invited to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Olympic boxing has always had rules forbidding professional fighters from competing, however reports indicate that this may change in time for the Rio games.
The AIBA, boxing’s world governing body, has pushed for a rule change to allow professionals into the Olympics effective this summer. This proposal has not yet been approved – voting will take place in May. They have however already approved a change that will see male boxers no longer wearing headgear (women will continue to wear the headgear for now).
As part of this proposed change, AIBA president Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu has personally invited Pacquiao to compete in Rio. Pacquiao is fighting his last professional fight in April against Timothy Bradley.
In response to this proposal, members of the California State Athletic Commission have released a statement coming out against the change. CSAC chairman John Carvelli stated:
“The bottom line is that professionals will compete against amateur fighters. Amateur/professional participation would create a competitive environment detrimental to the sport and dangerous for the participants – particularly young amateurs learning their craft. It is our collective responsibility to protect the health and safety of amateur athletes, while we protect and promote the honorable tradition of Olympic boxing – an international symbol of fair and open competition.”
Carvelli and other CSAC members called for the AIBA to reconsider the proposal and keep the Olympics as an amateurs only competition.
More on this story as it develops.