Top New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker, right, won't go to the Olympics despite rule changes allowing professionals to compete this year.
Top Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker won't be altering his plans this year, despite the governing body of boxing voting to let professionals fight at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The vote by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) allows any world champion boxer to try to qualify next month and win selection for their national team.
But Parker, who won the mandatory challenge to fight IBF champion Anthony Joshua by beating Carlos Takam last month, won't be changing his plans according to his promoters Duco, with communications manager Craig Stanaway hosing down that idea.
Joseph Parker is keeping his focus on a world heavyweight title shot so won't be going to Rio.
"It was discussed a couple of months ago and Joseph's sole intention is to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world," Stanaway said. "His Olympic dream passed four years ago."
Izu Ugonoh from Poland, who's No 12 in the world, he's on our undercard in four weeks' time so that's a no and Jeff Horn, he's the No 4 welterweight in the world and he's on holiday, so that's a no."
Parker will fight Australian Solomon Haumono in Christchurch in July.
AIBA's plan has been criticised across the professional ranks as a move toward dangerous mismatches between established boxers and inexperienced amateurs.
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Top Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker won't be altering his plans this year, despite the governing body of boxing voting to let professionals fight at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The vote by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) allows any world champion boxer to try to qualify next month and win selection for their national team.
But Parker, who won the mandatory challenge to fight IBF champion Anthony Joshua by beating Carlos Takam last month, won't be changing his plans according to his promoters Duco, with communications manager Craig Stanaway hosing down that idea.
Joseph Parker is keeping his focus on a world heavyweight title shot so won't be going to Rio.
"It was discussed a couple of months ago and Joseph's sole intention is to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world," Stanaway said. "His Olympic dream passed four years ago."
Izu Ugonoh from Poland, who's No 12 in the world, he's on our undercard in four weeks' time so that's a no and Jeff Horn, he's the No 4 welterweight in the world and he's on holiday, so that's a no."
Parker will fight Australian Solomon Haumono in Christchurch in July.
AIBA's plan has been criticised across the professional ranks as a move toward dangerous mismatches between established boxers and inexperienced amateurs.
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