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Rio 2016: GB Boxing rejects Chris Eubank Jr Olympics approach

Last updated on .From the section Boxingcomments38

Chris Eubank Jr
Eubank Jr beat fellow Englishman Nick Blackwell to claim the British middleweight title

GB Boxing has rejected an approach from Chris Eubank Sr about his son competing at the Rio Olympics this summer.

Chris Eubank Jr, the 26-year-old British middleweight champion, is eligible for Rio after a rule change allowed professionals to compete.

But GB Boxing said amateur middleweight Anthony Fowler, 25, would represent Team GB in that weight category.

Fowler secured his place at Rio 2016 by beating German opponent Xhek Paskali at the European qualifier in April.

Eubank Jr will make the first defence of his British title against Welshman Tom Doran at The O2 in London on 25 June.

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38 comments

  • Comment posted by foreverengland, at 21:03 7 Jun 2016

    Right decision - would have been really unfair to shoehorn Eubank Jr in at the expense of someone who's worked his butt off to get to Rio.

  • Comment posted by U15134315, at 21:07 7 Jun 2016

    Eubanks father and son both had their chances at amateur,it would be grossly unfair to push out a real amateur,good decision

  • Comment posted by U16511723, at 23:01 7 Jun 2016

    Fowler and the other amateur's fought in the qualifying event to earn the right to fight, the pro's didn't, end of discussion.

  • Comment posted by U14569148, at 21:01 7 Jun 2016

    And quite rightly.

  • Comment posted by U16331829, at 23:03 7 Jun 2016

    Shame on the IOC for this last minute rule change.

    It hasn't happened here in this instance, but elsewhere in other countries, amateurs that have worked four or more years for this opportunity are maybe being replaced by professionals who might have a better chance of winning a medal for their country.

  • Comment posted by Richard Morris, at 21:17 7 Jun 2016

    Stupid, stupid rule change to allow professionals in at all, and especially at such short notice. Right decision.

  • Comment posted by Matthew, at 07:21 8 Jun 2016

    This is what happens. All the blood, sweat, tears and financial struggles of amateur boxers count for nothing when you allow multimillionaires to comes along and enter with a few months to go before the games.

    I'm glad the British board have rejected Eubank's request, but sadly other nations boards will be only too happy to allow pros to enter if it gives them their best shot at gold.

  • Comment posted by CitizenX, at 23:31 7 Jun 2016

    The rule change happened in Mar 2013 from the AIBA. Since then there have been 7 or 8 qualifying competitions 2014 - 2016. The pros know this and if they wanted to represent then they needed to qualify like everyone else. I don't mind the pros in the olympics but no point talking about it only. Go ahead and qualify like the rest of the amateurs. C Eubank should have entered the qualifiers.

  • Comment posted by RememberScarborough, at 21:20 7 Jun 2016

    Why does this family remind me of a poor man's Khardashians....

  • Comment posted by David Wyn Davies, at 08:26 8 Jun 2016

    @25. jdgleave

    It's because, by and large, most of those sports you mentioned were traditionally amateur. There is now no such thing as an amateur athlete in most of the developed world.

    Boxing is a sport that still has clearly defined amateur and pro participants. The Olympics are still important for boxing to bring new blood through the ranks. Allowing pros is going to be unhelpful.

  • Comment posted by FiddlersElbow, at 10:19 8 Jun 2016

    Amateur boxing is a step to pro boxing and not the other way round. I did both and totally different in terms of fitness and intensity. I found within a year of being a pro the tops amateurs were easy to pick hurtful shots against. Let's think how this will deter young kids coming in to the gym with concerns of mixing with pros rather than having an avenue to enjoy boxing and turning pro later!

  • Comment posted by grahame, at 21:29 7 Jun 2016

    Mohammed Ali amateur Olympic champion sounds so right, the greatest achievement for amateur boxers taken away by one stupid decision. 2012 proved amateur boxing is great to watch

  • Comment posted by U13927685, at 07:46 8 Jun 2016

    Parachute in at someone else's expense just for the publicity. Selfish.

  • Comment posted by legaleagle47, at 23:24 7 Jun 2016

    All pro' boxers should boycott (refuse) to go to Rio, or its the end of ameteur boxing...and SHAME on any pro' who suggests they want to go .

  • Comment posted by U16140947, at 10:35 8 Jun 2016

    Why would a pro want to drop down and compete against amateurs? Bit of a backwards step to me. But then again, the rule change is a complete farce anyway. Olympic boxing has churned out some great fighters over the years and is a good stepping stone to turning pro. If it aint broke, don't fix it!!

  • Comment posted by 20Dec, at 22:25 7 Jun 2016

    Eubank is a disgrace for even trying this - Anthony Fowler fully deserves the place at the Olympics if Eubank wants to be in the Olympics then maybe the next one you cant take away his spot after he earned it. Next Amir Khan I bet - shocking decision by Boxing.

  • Comment posted by devilisindetail, at 21:26 7 Jun 2016

    Good result

  • Comment posted by U16551670, at 12:54 8 Jun 2016

    This guy is turning into a circus constantly calls out ggg then takes a fight with Tom Doran, now trying to get in the Olympic team his farther is trying everything to make him this big British icon he just needs to fight top level fighters instead of looking for the easy route always.

  • Comment posted by U16268943, at 09:05 8 Jun 2016

    well said #29, particularly if you're going to have both amateurs and professionals competing against each other. It's a recipe for disaster and I just hope it doesn't take a tragedy to make the authorities understand what a bad idea this is. Amateur boxing is very much focused on scoring points. Professional boxing is generally a lot more power-based.

  • Comment posted by Arandora, at 08:49 8 Jun 2016

    The ethos of the Olympics was lost many years ago when professional sportsmen were allowed in many, but not all, sports. So it is a question of whether the Olympics should be open to all sports irrespective of pro or amateur status. The problem with this decision is its timing. Why now, so near to the next Olympics? Why not from 2020?

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