Local boxers will get one final chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games this weekend when they take part in the AIBA World Olympic Qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan. Shown from left are assistant coach Valentino Knowles, head coach Andre Seymour and boxer Carl Hield. Missing are boxers Rasheild Williams and Ronald Woodside.

A vote took place within the International Boxing Association (AIBA) last month that could forever change the landscape of Olympic boxing, beginning this summer at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The multi-sport event runs August 5-21, with boxing matches beginning on August 6.

Leading up to the games, AIBA proposed a number of significant changes to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in relation to the format of the boxing program at the games. It was decided that for the first time at the Olympics, professional boxers will be eligible to compete in men's boxing.

Other changes cover the designation of the World Series of Boxing (WSB) and the AIBA Pro Boxing Tournament as qualifying stages for the Olympics, the elimination of headgear due to higher concussion risks with headgear than without, and the instant 10-point pro-style scoring system to stimulate transparency and fair judgment throughout the tournament.

Similar to the 2012 games, the men will compete in 10 weight classes -- light fly, fly, bantam, light, light welter, welter, middle, light heavy, heavy and super heavy. As for the women, they will compete in three weight classes -- fly, light and middle.

According to a statement released by AIBA following the vote, the reasoning for allowing amateurs and professional athletes to compete against one another is to "increase the amount of competitive boxers" at the games.

Although the verdict was passed in March, AIBA continues to meet resistance from the amateur boxing community, claiming the decision puts a damper on those fighters who have gone through countless tournaments and trials just to make it to the Olympics. The amateur boxing community is saying that it is killing the dreams of those fighters.

Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) President Wellington Miller, who also serves as the president of the Amateur Boxing Federation of The Bahamas (ABFB), has been involved with boxing for most of his life. He said despite the rumbling surrounding the admittance of professionals to the Olympic program, he doesn't think the ruling will make much of a difference.

Although names like Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao have come up in recent weeks, talking about representing their respective countries at the games, Miller doubts a lot of pros will risk competing at the Olympics and that the two worlds would remain divided for now.

"I doubt think they'll come out to compete at this year's Olympic Games. I mean, although times are different, with AIBA now focusing on amateurs and professionals, I still don't think a lot of pros would be interested," Miller said. "A time ago, if you were a professional coach, you couldn't even train an amateur, but now that you take off the headgear, it's almost likes a pro fight anyway. I'm not really in support of it, but I'm part of it and will definitely look further into how this decision will affect our amateurs going forward. I think maybe at the 2020 games the idea will gain more traction, but as of right now, it's just to close to the games for the pros to make this kind of decision."

Local boxers looking to qualify for the games include Carl Hield, Rashield Williams and Ronald Woodside.

The boxers will get another chance to qualify this weekend at the AIBA World Olympic Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Randy Smith, Guardian Sports Reporter

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