Rule changes and controversy

Few sports have changed more than boxing in the space of a single Olympic cycle. Rio 2016 will see boxers fighting without head guards and using the “10-point must” scoring system from professional boxing (more below), rather than the traditional count of punches landed cleanly used in amateur boxing. The event will also be open to professional boxers for the first time, a cumulative set of changes that makes Olympic boxing difficult to distinguish from the professional sport, although matches will still be significantly shorter.
Fans of the changes say it will allow the biggest names in the sport to add a gold medal to their laurels, and will put an end to the mismatches seen when countries which prohibit professional sports field mature, experienced fighters against younger amateurs from western nations, like when 17 year old Amir Khan lost to 33 year old Mario Kindelan at Beijing in 2004. It also makes it easier for medallists from previous Olympics to return and defend their medals, an opportunity taken up by Great Britain’s Nicola Adams in the women’s boxing.
Critics believe that it will simply increase the number of meetings between amateur and professional boxers, leading to a greater number of dangerous mismatches. The British Boxing Board of Control has criticised the change, and two of the professional sport’s governing bodies, the IBF and WBC, have threatened a variety of sanctions against professionals who compete.
The upshot is that while a number of professional fighters have qualified, they are all young fighters rather than the superstars of the sport.