Tanes ready for Mongolian and Rio Games

Standing between the lone Thai fighter left in the competition and the berth at the forthcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games is Mongolia’s ErkhAmar Kharkhuu.

With only one more victory away from securing a ticket to Brazil in August, Tanes is confident he could become the country’s fourth boxer after Wuthichai Masuk, Chatchai Butdee and Sailom Ardee to make it to Rio Games.        

“I had a light training today and try to control my weight, which is still slightly over the limit. But, that’s not a problem. I can eat normal food. I’m in good shape, physically. The pain in my right hand has gone.

 “Personally, I feel confident that I could beat my rival from Mongolia to clinch a ticket to my first Olympic Games. Hopefully, the fans would lend me a lot of support. I would not disappoint them. Given my physical condition and thoroughly studying his technique, I think I could achieve my target,” said Tanes on the eve of his 52kg fight at Sarhadchi arena in Baku.    

 

Pro boxers will lose titles

Professional boxers who compete at this year’s Olympics will be stripped of their International Boxing Federation titles, the IBF said.

Professional boxers were given the green light to compete at the August 5-21 Rio Games earlier this month but the IBF is unhappy with the decision and said there was an inherent safety risk with professionals competing against amateurs. After reviewing medical opinions, the IBF has decided that if professional boxers compete in Rio it would be considered unsportsmanlike behaviour and they would be sanctioned.