?NACHO? BERISTAIN SAYS ALLOWING PRO BOXERS TO COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS IS COMPLETE MADNESS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 21 Mar 2016
Another highly respected trainer, Hall of Famer Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain has come out strongly against the announced plans of AIBA president Dr. Wu Kuo Ching to allow professional boxers to compete in the Olympic Games beginning in Rio de Janeiro this year.
Beristain branded the plan ?complete madness? who told Boxing Scene the scenario seems to be ?a recipe for disaster and its a project without a future.?
The respected trainer who has handled Olympic boxers from Mexico.
The AIBA which is the governing body for amateur boxing is aiming to copy the entry of NBA players in the Barcelona Olympics in the form of the ?Dream Team? because they believe ?it will increase the quality of the matches.?
Beristain knows the sport as he trains several former and current world champions and said ?this project is impossible to be a success because of numerous factors which separate an amateur from a pro.
The renowned trainer said ?they will ruin the essence of amateur boxing. I don?t understand how a professional that practices this discipline to make a living would risk that for a tournament like this one.?
The AIBA has also proposed to eliminate the use of headgear that protects boxers which is something that has been thoroughly criticized by the entire boxing community as that would create a dangerous situation where an amateur risks suffering serious injuries by facing a professional.
Beristain added, ?I think this is a complete mixture of nonsense. The way judges evaluate amateur and professional boxing is different, the way they punch is way different.?
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