AIBA's decision sparked renewed interest in the often-overlooked Olympic sport and drew tentative interest from some pros. AIBA decided earlier this year to allow professional boxers to compete for an Olympic berth, but Amnat Ruenroeng and Hassan N'Dam are the most prominent fighters to seize the opportunity. Yet their questions about the safety of matching seasoned fighters against frequently youthful amateurs were echoed by dozens of prominent boxers, including Lennox Lewis and Ricky Hatton. After so much drama, it's increasingly likely that no prominent professional fighters will be in the Rio tournament. While the governing bodies hold little power to prevent pros from fighting, their imprimatur is often a major factor in a professional boxer's financial success.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 03, 2016 05:05 UTC