The president of the Association of Boxing Commissions Michael Mazzulli and the Board of Directors have expressed the hope that AIBA and the International Olympic Committee will reconsider their decision to allow professional boxers to compete in the Olympic Games beginning in Rio in 2016.
As President of the Association of Boxing Commissions, Mazzulli and the Board of Directors expressed their ?disappointment with the decision to allow amateur boxers to compete with professionals in the Olympics.
Even worse than just a majority vote, the vote of 84 to 0 in favor, is a statement in and of itself.?
The ABC president emphasized that ?The ABC is committed to fighter safety, so hopefully, the AIBA/IOC Committee will consider the potential risk and future ramifications of allowing amateur boxers to compete with professional boxers and added ?Surely, their decision should be determined by athlete safety.?
The ABC has spoken out against this proposal previously, from the use/non-use of headgear, boxing style and experience, method of scoring awards, and a level playing field, this proposal is fraught with danger. As we know in boxing, one bad match-up can mean the difference, literally, in life and death.?
The ABC president expressed his hope that both the IOC and AIBA will reconsider their stance.
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