PROFESSIONAL boxers will compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after the international boxing association AIBA approved a constitutional change yesterday, its president said.

    AIBA boss Wu Ching-kuo said the change of the AIBA constitution was approved with 95 percent in favor — 84 of 88 voting members — paving the way for professionals to fight for medals for the first time at the Olympics starting Aug. 5.

    “We approved it and now they can compete,” he said in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the single-issue meeting and vote took place.

    Some 26 Olympic spots will be up for grabs when fighters compete at a qualifying tournament in Venezuela next month, with a total of 286 boxers — 236 men and 50 women set to compete in Rio’s boxing events.

    Though few pros are likely to make the Rio lineup at such short notice, the longer term aim is letting paid fighters know they should target the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

    (SD-Agencies)