Boxing officials hopeful professional boxers will compete in Rio Olympics

Professional boxers will likely compete in the Rio Olympics.

Professional boxers will likely compete in the Rio Olympics, International Boxing Association president Ching-Kuo Wu​ announced Wednesday.  

Under current rules introduced in 2013, professional boxers are able to go to the Olympics only if they’ve had less than 15 paid fights and signed a contract with the APB, the professional arm of the world boxing governing body AIBA. However, AIBA has proposed to remove these barriers in time for this summer’s Olympics.

“We want the best boxers to come to the Olympic Games,” Wu said. “It is AIBA’s 70th birthday, and we want something to change—not after four years, but now.”

Wu believes the changes will be made in time for the Rio Games.

“According to our statutes it is absolutely possible,” he added.

• P4P rankings: Gonzalez still on top

Wu was elected AIBA president in 2006.