Pro boxers in 2016 Olympics??

The executive committee of the International Boxing Association (Aiba) has approved a new program that will allow professional boxers to compete in the 2016 Rio de Janiero Games... More on the story.

Well, AIBA will now have a professional division.  That would be cool for our country but what does it truly mean? I guess AIBA realized the marketing potential of their boxers. By having stars, they can probably help the boxers earn some good income but also give the organization some new lifeblood. I guess the dangerous Cubans will no longer defect just to be pro. Here some issues and questions:

1. Rules and Officiating.  I just do not what will be there rules? Are they still going to use to their controversial point system to a system used in the pros which can be more controversial?  Is it still going to be 4-rounders? I cannot imagine a fighter fight 10 rounders in 5 consecutive days.

2. Promotions. With AIBA going to compete with WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO, we are just adding another alphabet in the muddled world of pro-boxing. Under the AIBA Professional Boxing (APB), fighters are exclusively fighting for APB and they cannot challenge the other alphabet belts. It is definitely harder now to find the real champion. Who will promote the fight? AIBA? How will they pay for the boxers and what is the cut for the organization? Are boxers going to be paid the same?

3. Implications in the Philippines. Will ABAP will directly compete now with the big promoters for the services of our boxers? Will allowing pros be good for our quest for boxing gold? 

While it is good that the sport of boxing be unified under one umbrella like basketball's FIBA, we still do not know how the big personalities of the sport would react to change. How will WBC for example react with this development. If we really want to find who is the best then why would they limit the competition to one organization? It will be exciting to see what happens next but I am sure once it is implemented I will expect to see weekly boxing cards here in Cebu.