Arum attacks Olympic plan

HONG KONG: Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum has slammed as “total madness” a proposal to allow professional boxers to fight against amateurs in the Rio Olympics.

The 84-year-old American, who has arranged fights for ring greats from Muhammad Ali to Manny Pacquiao in a career spanning more than 50 years, believes boxers could be seriously hurt if the plan by the sport’s governing body, the International Boxing Association (Aiba), goes ahead.

“To have guys who are experienced professional fighters against these amateurs, you’re looking at serious, serious injuries. It’s total madness,” Arum told AFP.

“Imagine putting in a 147lb kid novice from Nigeria, who could be a great prospect, with Manny Pacquiao? It’s ludicrous. It’s silly.”

Aiba first floated the radical proposal to allow professionals into the Rio Olympics a few months ago and will put it to the vote at its congress in Lausanne early next month — just two months before the Games.

Arum clearly sees Aiba’s move as an attempt to grab a slice of the riches on offer in the lucrative professional game.

“The Aiba people have this idea that, like Fifa in football, they can take over the whole sport, which they can’t,” declared Arum. “And they shouldn’t.

“They are trying to take over boxing. If they want to take some aspects of professional boxing such as scoring systems and incorporate it into amateur boxing then that’s OK. But they should confine themselves to amateurs.

“They realise that the big money is in professional boxing, but they are going to encounter tremendous difficulty.”