BEIJING: A proposal to let professional fighters compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics is "ridiculous" and "foolish," former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson said Wednesday.

In Beijing to promote professional boxing in China, Tyson said any pro boxers going to the Olympics should be prepared to lose because the amateurs could prove too fast for them.

"It's ridiculous, it's foolish and some of the pro fighters are going to get beat by the amateurs," Tyson said. "It's just going to happen. Some of them are going to get beat I think. I really believe that."

While eight-time world champion Manny Pacquiao has he would consider representing his native Philippines in the Olympics, his promoter Bob Arum has said that is a terrible idea

Arum said last month he can't imagine Pacquiao fighting teen-age amateurs in what would surely be mismatches in the Olympics, warning "there will be serious health consequences" to putting experienced pros in with rank amateurs.

Even if pros are not allowed in Rio, the boxing competition will resemble the pro game more, with a 10-point must system scoring and no headgear for the first time.