No Rio Olympics Place for Chris Eubank Jnr as GB Boxing Snub British Middleweight Champion and Stick With Amateurs
- GB Boxing turn down an approach by Chris Eubank Snr regarding his son
- British middleweight champion was keen to represent country at Olympics
- But GB Boxing are focusing on taking amateurs despite AIBA rule changes
- Great Britain already has a qualified boxer in middleweight (75kg) category
Daily Mail UK, 8 June 2016
Chris Eubank Jnr will not be boxing for Great Britain against amateurs in this summer’s Rio Olympics. Eubank’s namesake father has been canvassing for his son to take advantage of the decision to allow professionals to take fight in Rio.
Chris Eubank Jnr will not be boxing for Great Britain against amateurs in this summer’s Rio Olympics.
Eubank’s namesake father has been canvassing for his son to take advantage of the decision to allow professionals to take fight in Rio.
But GB Boxing have stopped Eubank in his tracks.
‘We have explained to his representatives that we already have Antony Fowler qualified for Rio at middleweight after a long process,’ a statement said.
‘We have accepted places for eight boxers already, including Fowler, and having done so we cannot send boxers in their weight divisions to any further qualification events.’
Another Rio qualifying tournament has been organised for next month in Venezuela, but Amir Khan has already said he does not intend to represent Britain or Pakistan, his family’s country of origin.
Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson are among leading fighters who have led the outrage against professionals going to Rio.
Manny Pacquiao and Wladimir Klitschko expressed interest but are otherwise engaged, Pacquiao as a newly elected Philippines senator and the recently deposed world heavyweight champion with his title rematch against Tyson Fury in Manchester UK next month.
Antony Fowler has already booked his place at the Games at 75kg and taking a professional is highly unlikely
Eubank Snr and his son's representatives approached GB Boxing regarding the team being sent out to Rio
.