The controversial proposal of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has been condemned by several notable figures in the sport, including 1988 Olympic gold medallist and former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who has called the idea "preposterous".

AIBA are planning to discuss amending an eligibility rule at an Extraordinary Congress in the Olympic Capital Lausanne on June 1.

Providing the amendment is approved by AIBA's 197 Member Federations, it will open the door for any boxer to compete at Rio 2016 providing they have qualified.

Fighters such as Manny Pacquiao, the sport's first and only eight-division world champion, and American light heavyweight Andre Ward have expressed an interest in fighting at the Olympics with the former claiming he had been personally invited to do so by AIBA President C K Wu.

However, De La Hoya, who won the lightweight gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and is now chairman and chief executive of Goldon Boy Promotions, is the latest high-profile name to criticise the potential move. 

"I hope they come to their senses and keep superstars out of the Olympic ring," he wrote in the Los Angeles Times.

"If you know you’re up against the best amateurs in the world, that’s hard enough; but if you have to face a superstar like Manny Pacquiao, you'll wonder if you should even bother competing.

"An amateur fighter is almost sure to lose against any professional, eliminating his opportunity to launch his career.

"It’s true that weight maximums, standard in the Olympics, level the playing field among amateurs; but they hardly guarantee a fair fight when there’s a professional in competition."

The Mexican-American added: "Nearly a quarter-century ago, when I was an amateur boxer, I stood atop a podium in Barcelona and was presented the greatest prize of my career, the Olympic gold medal.

"Had professionals been allowed to participate in the ring that year, I would not have made it so far.

"The AIBA should focus on its job, improving boxing in a way that draws more young people to the sport and fans to the stands - and not subject aspiring Olympians to potential heartache, pain and defeat before they even enter the ring."

Ed Picson, executive director of the Association of Boxing of Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP), has confirmed that the ABAP are keeping a slot open for Pacquiao in the light welterweight division in the event that he opts to compete.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, who worked with USA Boxing during London 2012, has vowed to back the Filipino star if he decides to take advantage of rule changes.

"We talked about him fighting in the Olympics," said the World Boxing Hall of Famer. 

"How realistic is it that it would happen? 

"I have no idea.

"But if Manny decided it was something he wanted to do and could do, I told him I’d support him and help him."

Leading promoter Bob Arum isn't so supportive though, branding the idea of allowing professional boxers to compete at Rio 2016 as "absolutely insane".

"It’s not only insane, it’s dangerous," the founder and chief executive of Las Vegas-based professional boxing promotion company Top Rank told Las Vegas Review-Journal.

"You’re going to put professionals in the ring with a 17 or 18 year-old kid?

"Someone’s going to get seriously hurt.

"These people need their heads examined."

According to the AIBA website, the late decision to change the eligibility criteria for the Olympics means that any professional boxer who wants to compete at Rio 2016 will only have one opportunity to qualify.

That will be at the AIBA World Olympic Qualifier in Azerbaijan's capital Baku, an event due to take place between June 14 and 26, where the top three of the remaining boxers in each of the eight categories, and the champion in two heaviest classes, will qualify.

A spokesman for AIBA, however, has told insidethegames that a new tournament at the end of June or beginning of July will be introduced on to the calendar to give professionals the opportunity to qualify for Rio 2016.