Former world champion Carl Frampton and a number of other high-profile fighters have hit out at the decision to allow professionals to box at the Olympics.
International boxing federations voted in the rule change just weeks before the Rio Games start on 5 August.
Northern Irishman Frampton says amateur and pro boxing are "two different sports", claiming: "It's like a badminton player playing tennis."
Ricky Hatton and Stephen Smith have also criticised the move.
"Goodbye amateur boxing now as far as I'm concerned," tweeted former welterweight and light-welterweight world champion Hatton. "Can't say I'm a fan of this."
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Smith, who has had 28 fights as a pro, said he was "gutted" to learn the news.
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| Olympic professional boxing vote is criticised by Carl Frampton |
The vote to allow pro boxers to fight at the Olympics took place at a meeting of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) in Switzerland.
The decision means any professional can enter a qualifying event in Venezuela next month in an attempt to win selection, with 26 entry places up for grabs.
AIBA president CK Wu said it was "difficult to anticipate" how many pros would attempt to qualify for Rio.
Former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has indicated he would like to box at the Olympics.
But the 40-year-old Ukrainian, who won super-heavyweight gold at the Atlanta Games in 1996, is unlikely to take part in qualifying.
He takes on Britain's Tyson Fury in a title rematch in Manchester on 9 July.
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