FORMER two-time world middleweight title challenger Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam has vowed to take part in the final Olympic qualifier in July.
AIBA recently passed a ruling which will allow professional boxers to take part in the Olympics for the first time in history, but they will need to be selected by their national federation and sent to the qualifying event in Venezuela in early July.
N’Jikam, who represented Cameroon at the 2004 Games, beating Andy Lee but losing to eventual winner Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov, of Russia (who beat Gennady Golovkin in the final), has revealed his plans, l’equipe report.
“I will be taking part in the Olympic qualifiers which will be held on 3rd July in Venezuela. This’ll be three rounds of three minutes [in each fight]. I’m going to put myself in amateur mode before coming back to my professional career in November, probably for an international title,” he said.
Born in Cameroon, the 32-year-old now lives in France, and is coming off of wins over Patrick Mendy and Robert Swierzbinski following his decision reverse to David Lemieux for the vacant IBF middleweight title last year.
His only other pro loss came to then-WBO boss Peter Quillin, who dropped him six times en route to a lopsided points win in 2012.
Twenty six Olympic spaces are up for grabs at the qualifier in Venezuela, though it has not been made clear if only a limited number of those will be available to professional fighters.
N’Jikam is the first high-profile pro to announce their plans of going to the qualifier in Venezuela, but there has been no confirmation from Cameroon or AIBA that he is definitely going.
The event is still set to go ahead despite the political and economic unrest currently troubling Venezuela.
