World and Olympic medal winning boxer Vijender Singh, who turned a professional boxer almost a year ago, said he was not sure as to how he could get back to the Olympic fold.
In a landmark decision, > AIBA today threw the Olympic doors open for professional boxers after an extraordinary congress in Lausanne, Switzerland voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move.
The decision has, however, been met with a mixed response with some like Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis calling it "foolish" and "preposterous" while others like Amir Khan welcoming the step.
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In India, AIBA's decision brought the focus on Olympic medallist Vijender, who turned professional last year. The 30-year-old, a former amateur world No.1 in middleweight, is enjoying an unbeaten run in his pro career and is scheduled to fight for the WBO Asia title belt on July 16 in the national capital.
"I welcome AIBA's decision of allowing professional boxers to compete in the Rio Olympics. I am yet to receive the formalities for this entire process. Since there is no federation in the country, I don't know who will guide me for this entire thing. Right now I am concentrating on my 16 July title fight to be held in New Delhi," Vijender told PTI when asked whether he would give Olympic qualification a shot.
His measured response to the world body's decision is not without ground given that the final Olympic qualifier for the Indians will be the AIBA World Qualifiers in Azerbaijan, starting June 16. The Rio Games are scheduled to start on August 5.
The team for that event has already been finalised and since Vijender was not a part of the trials held last month, he is not in the reckoning to make the cut.
The strapping six-footer is already preparing for his next pro bout which leaves him with no time to pursue an Olympic berth at this stage.
The AIBA's move is already being considered a case of too late for the upcoming Olympics and is likely to show major results, if any, in the 2020 Games in Tokyo.
The AIBA will hold the qualifying tournament for professional boxers from June 3 in Venezuela but given that Vijender has already committed himself for the WBO Asia title bout on July 16, it is highly unlikely that he would be able to make himself available for the qualifiers.
The qualifiers in Venezuela will offer 26 Olympic quotas to boxers from AIBA's professional leagues along with the pro boxers affiliated with other bodies.
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