CARACAS, Venezuela – Boxers from around the world will compete in crisis-stricken Venezuela next week to grab the remaining 26 berths for next month's Olympics, with professionals taking part for the first time.
The sport's governing body ruled in a landmark decision last month that professionals can box in the Rio de Janeiro Games, though for the biggest names it was too late to qualify and critics said it would put the health of amateur fighters at grave risk.
The president of the Venezuelan Boxing Federation, Fran Lopez, said 24 professionals had confirmed they will take part in the qualifiers from Sunday to Friday.
Around 100 fighters from 45 countries will slug it out at the Domo Jose Maria Vargas arena in the northern Caribbean city of Maiquetia, Lopez told AFP.
The top two fighters from the heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions will qualify for the Games, as will the top three from each of 8 lower weight divisions.
The tournament takes place with Venezuela struggling with a political and economic crisis that has seen food and electricity shortages and deadly looting.
Despite the crisis that has seen electricity cut for several hours a day in numerous cities, Lopez insisted: "Venezuela is going to be the world capital of boxing" for a week.
Many top fighters have made their name at the Olympics before moving on to have groundbreaking professional careers.
They include Muhammad Ali, who won gold at the Rome Games in 1960, when still known as Cassius Clay.
But some have criticized the move to let professionals into the Games, including former gold medallist and world heavyweight title-holder Lennox Lewis, who called it "preposterous." – Rappler.com