ANTHONY JOSHUA claims he would not have been crowned Olympic champion if pro boxers had competed at London 2012.
Governing body AIBA have been widely criticised for changing the rules ahead of the Rio Games to allow fighters from the paid ranks to go for gold.
But Joshua, who still trains alongside the GB Boxing squad in Sheffield, insists he would have fallen short against battle-hardened professionals.
The IBF world heavyweight champion, 26, said: “If pros had been allowed back in 2012 it would have prevented me winning the gold.
“They would have been more seasoned. I wasn’t seasoned at all, I just had strength and a bit of fitness.
“A seasoned pro would have beaten me and it would have prevented me doing it, so that’s why I wouldn’t go.”
Professional boxers can bid to book a place in Rio at the final qualification event in Venezuela next month.
It appears highly unlikely amateurs will have to tackle any of the sport’s superstars this time round — but it could be a different matter come the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
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Joshua, who defends the IBF title against Dominic Breazeale at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, added: “I look at it from all angles but I wouldn’t go.
“There are guys in the GB squad now preparing for 2020 in Tokyo and I don’t want to take that opportunity away from them.
“I wouldn’t do it because of the relationship I have with them.
“I can understand why AIBA want to do it because they’re getting amateurs to an elite level and then they’re going professional.
“But I just think there are so many rules and regulations it would be difficult.”
Joshua, Luke Campbell and Nicola Adams all struck gold as Team GB’s boxers claimed five medals in the capital four years ago.
And Audley Harrison, 44, has tipped the highly-rated class of 2016 to do even better.
Harrison, who won super-heavyweight gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, said: “Every one of our boxers going to Rio thinks they’re good enough to get a medal.”
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