AIBA have voted to allow professional boxers to compete in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ©ITG

Professional boxers will be free to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after a historic motion was passed at an International Boxing Association (AIBA) Extraordinary Congress here today.

Eighty-four of the 88 delegates present voted in support of the motion.

Boxing is the last of all the summer or winter sports to make such a decision, meaning there is no longer any ban on professional athletes competing at an Olympic Games.

The move, cited as a key priority by AIBA President CK Wu, has not been universally popular, with possible safety risks due to mismatches between professional and less experienced amateurs one concern.

It remains to be seen how many fighters from the professional ranks will be able to compete at Rio 2016 given the tight deadline until the Games opens on August 5.

No boxers are expected to be given a wildcard, with all having to fulfill specific qualification criteria.

A qualification tournament is now due to take place on July 3 to 8 in Vargas, Venezuela.

Twenty-six quota places will be available. 

National Federations will have final decisions on eligibility.

The decision was described as a key part of the
The decision was described as a key part of the "masterplan" of AIBA President CK Wu ©Getty Images

"This is a key part of my masterplan and is a big step forward," said Wu afterwards

"At this stage, it is difficult to say how many professionals will compete in Rio.

"But there will be some.

"They will all have to go through the qualification system."

Various leading organisations and fighters have criticised the decision, including leading professional body the World Boxing Council (WBC), who have described the plans as the "shameful lowest stage" of Olympic boxing.

"In my belief every athlete should have the right to go to the Olympic Games," added the Taiwanese.

A statement added: "AIBA’s decision supports the IOC Agenda 2020 which seeks to ensure that the world’s best athletes are eligible to compete at the Olympic Games".

"Boxing was one of the few sports not to have been open to all professional athletes, and the changes reflect the levelling of the playing field and the culmination of reforms and new competitions that AIBA has been responsible for, particularly the inauguration of AIBA Pro Boxing and World Series of Boxing competitions."

AIBA have not yet revealed which four delegates abstained from voting for the proposal.