(FEB 11) Back in 2012/13 there was much talk (not exactly denied by the AIBA Executive at the time) that Professional boxers might just be welcome at the Olympic Games.

That of course was in the days when AIBA President Dr.Ching-Kuo Wu was planning a bid for Presidency of the International Olympic Committee and was on a ‘whistle stop’

tour of countries like Mexico and the Philippines, the support of those countries.

Albeit understood to be the preferred choice of then I.O.C President Dr.Jacques Rogge, Dr.Wu did not get the support he ‘required’, some say ‘deserved’ and thus as we now know that prestigious I.O.C role went to the present incumbent Thomas Bach from Germany. For some, dreams of an Olympic Gold loomed large and indeed in the case of

Wladimir Klitschko, arguably that ‘dream’ of a second Olympic Gold is not ’dead and buried’.

According to ‘NBC Olympic Talk’ Wladimir did not exactly ‘expect’ to be in Tokyo 2020 nor did he rule it out completely.

“Wladimir Klitschko is not eligible for any of the qualifying paths,” an International Boxing Association (AIBA) official said in an email Friday, quoted by NBC’s Nick Zaccardi.

The response from Wladimir? NBC Olympic talk again:

“I’m not ready to talk about it in particular, what it looks like, because AIBA, that’s the sanctioning body of amateur [boxing], needs to get along with professional boxers,” the Ukrainian Klitschko said. “I’ve heard about the rules. There’s certain amount of boxing fights and experience, whatever the rules are, I’m not right now familiar with that, because I think it hasn’t been confirmed 100 percent yet.

“If there is a chance, I would love to participate. Any other sport, they can play professionally [and play in the Olympics]. It’s a shame for boxing that professional boxers cannot perform in the Olympics.”

That last line may indeed be true – but they never must be allowed nor indeed is it likely, since the AIBA’s President Wu is also on the Executive of the I.O.C and to even allow fully fledged Pros to compete in the Olympics would surely be the last thing Dr.Wu wants bearing in mind his own organisation’s desire to control ALL boxing.

In an interview with ‘Boxing Insider’ in November Dr. Wu outlined his vision for the future:

“As an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member since 1988 and IOC Executive Board Member since 2012, I was committed to bringing the noble art back to its golden age by capitalizing on what has been achieved so far and aligning all of AIBA’s competitions with the principles of the Olympic Movement.”

“Under my Presidency, AIBA has become a clean, honest and transparent organization, observing a zero-tolerance policy on corruption and approaches its mission to govern the sport of boxing worldwide in all of its forms with unmatched dedication.”

“After the 1988 Olympic Games, the IOC decided to make all professional athletes eligible for the Olympic Games, subject to the approval of the responsible International Federations,” said Wu.

“Up until the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, the only way boxers could qualify for the Games were through participating in AIBA’s Open Boxing (AOB) competition, as AIBA is the only boxing governing body recognized by the IOC.

Following the 2008 Games, we wanted to explore ways through which boxers could learn, grow, and prosper within the sport of boxing professionally, while still ensuring their ability to qualify for the Olympics. In short, AIBA sought to provide boxers with stable training and competitive environments that would ultimately reinvigorate the grass roots of the sport, develop youth and elite boxing, and create new opportunities for semi-pro and pro-boxers.”

“This was one of the driving reasons behind AIBA’s establishment of two new pro-style competitions,” said Wu.

World Series of Boxing (WSB):

Launched in 2010, is the only global pro-style team competition.

AIBA Pro Boxing (APB):

Launched earlier this year, this is a ground-breaking new pro boxing competition based on individual rankings. APB is the first and only individual competition in the history of boxing, which allows pro boxers to compete whilst retaining their Olympic eligibility.

“Rio 2016 will be the first Olympic Games in history allowing pro boxers to compete. Following the introduction of APB and WSB, boxers can now qualify through all three AIBA competition formats: AOB, WSB and APB.”

He told ‘Boxing Insider’ : “AIBA is not receiving any opposition from other Olympic Sports. In fact, given we were one of the last International Federations to be given permission for professional athletes compete in Olympic Games, other sports as well as the IOC have welcomed our introduction of WSB and now APB.”

“Since AIBA has expanded the number, and scope, of competitions under its umbrella – such as the WSB and APB – there are more boxers participating in AIBA events than ever before,” said Wu.

“In addition, AIBA will also continue to focus on developing the grass-roots and club level participants based on the new programs’ successes. AIBA is the sole governing body of the sport of boxing that is recognized by the IOC, and as such, AIBA-sanctioned events are the only possible route for boxers to qualify for Olympic Games.”

True there are many, many boxing fans worldwide including the United States and other professional strongholds who would welcome seeing all the top Pros (male and female) in the Olympics. Any such campaign must – in the interests of health and safety of AIBA ‘amateur’ (or semi-pro boxers call them what you will) be clearly vetoed.

In the Women’s Worlds in Jeju, we saw what a mismatch there was when Olympic Gold medallist Claressa Shields was pitted against an inexperienced (save in home territories) boxer from Uganda in the preliminary round.

The latter lasted all of 3 seconds plus of course the mandatory count-11 seconds in all. In fairness it must be said that the Ugandan coach and the Referee and most likely other AIBA sources indicated that the bout must be stopped in the interests of the Ugandan’s ‘safety’. That was eminently sensible.

Now imagine the number of young ‘19 years old and upwards’ young males and females who could take part in future Olympics’ through the AIBA’s excellent schemes and just for one moment imagine one of them meeting up with say Klitschko or Pacquiao? (AOB Olympic style boxing max.age limit is now 40). One can but imagine the horrific consequences that could result.

At a time when ALL sports including boxing face criticism that existing protocols are not medically safe, do we really want to read about or see the death of a young boxer at the Olympics or indeed at an AIBA World or Confederation championships? Hopefully not.

Just how long will it be before attorneys and others will be understandably following up with major claims against boxing authorities in same way that some professional sports bodies in the United States are already facing massive compensation payments? It is a sports wide, worldwide and not just a U.S or European problem.

For the sake of the sports we all love now let us not add to the misery facing families who have already lost a son or daughter in a sporting accident/incident.

In the case of AIBA boxers let us also remember that the overwhelming majority of same put their bodies on the line for the sport they love, without any form of payment being expected or received.

For these reasons, despite how much we might wish to see Klitschko or Manny Pacquiao in quest of Gold, we must say NO THANK YOU, now and forever. Equally let the AIBA join with other boxing associations and take greater steps than ever before to assure the safety of boxers.

The boxers lives are much more importance than any organisation, amateur, Pro or Semi-Pro and for once there should be a detailed review of existing health and safety procedures including concussion protocols and preferably under a truly independent Judge with no links past or present to any of the organisations concerned.

Anything less should not be acceptable to the “boxing family” of ANY organisation.