Following a decision by AIBA, the international boxing governing body, allowing professional boxers to compete in the Olympic Games, starting with Rio 2016 in August, stakes have been raised for amateur pugilists.

Just like many other professional athletes already competing in the Olympics, boxers like Floyd Mayweather Jr (USA), Amir Khan (Britain) and Manny Pacquiao (Philippine) are free to represent their respective countries at the Olympics.

The other decision made by AIBA, is that for the first time in 36 years, protective headgear has been eliminated for these Olympics.

Another decision made by AIBA is on the duration of fights. The fights are only three rounds, and the body reckons it is less time to do serious damage for a fighter without protective headgear.

However, Theo Gakunzi, a local amateur light-welterweight boxer, thinks it’s unfair to fight professionals like Mayweather.

"I think it’s ridiculous. I think there’s no comparison between amateurs and pros and the style of fighting, let alone the level of strength of a professional fighter. And, in Rwanda, it even gets more difficult because we don’t have any pros to test ourselves against,” he explained.

It’s an obvious attempt by AIBA to raise the bar for an Olympic sport that is mostly forgotten. No Rwandan has ever won an Olympic medal.

Sibomana Niyitegeka, who fights at the light-welterweight, says it is unfair and a dangerous proposition to pit amateurs against professionals.

He admits, "It counts among the most unfair decisions boxing has ever reached, not least because there is the genuine and terrifying prospect of an unsuspecting amateur thrown into the big boys’ den.”

The Rwanda Amateur Boxing Association (RABA) spokesman, Tom Nkusi said, "It is a challenge because it creates anxiety when an amateur fighter steps in the ring to fight a professional, but at the same time it is a chance for them to raise their standards.”

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