ISLAMABAD: British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan announced the formation of the Super Boxing League at the Amir Khan Boxing Academy here on Monday. “I have taken the idea from my partner who is from India. He formed this league in India, so I decided to bring the league here to Pakistan,” Amir, who had also expressed a desire to stage the league earlier this year, said at a press conference. He that eight teams, also including women boxers, from across Pakistan would participate in the league which would hold fights under the World Boxing Council. “The purpose of the league, expected to be held in December 2017 or January 2018, is to highlight boxing talent in Pakistan,” he added.
The participating teams include Multan Thunders, Faisalabad Falcons, Islamabad Kings, Peshawar Warriors, Lahore Giants, Quetta Stars, Sialkot United and Karachi Devils.
Amir, who held a similar event in India, was hopeful that the event would prove to be beneficial for country’s boxers. “The league in India was big, big hit, we had so many celebrities who participated in the event there,” he said. “In Pakistan, each team will have a celebrity face from any field singing, acting or others. This has never been done before. We tried this in India and it was very successful, this is my own company and I have brought this to Pakistan,” he added.
Amir also said that he would not bring international boxers in the first edition as he was aiming to promote Pakistan’s local talent. “I don’t want it to be an international event, it is going to be mainly for Pakistani boxers as we want to promote local talent,” he said. “I am really looking forward to showing the world the talent we have in Pakistan. This is going to be great for the future of boxing in Pakistan. This is a chance for young people to win WBC belt.” Amir added that it would be a pro-am tournament, where boxers would fight in three rounds of three minutes each. “It’s going to be an exciting tournament,” said Amir, while confirming that main sponsor for the tournament had also been finalised. Amir also spent time training with local boxers at the academy on the occasion. “Amir is Pakistan’s Mohammad Ali,” said British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, who also visited the academy with Amir. “He is Pakistan’s ambassador in Britain and a British ambassador in Pakistan.” Drew said that he wanted international cricket to come back to Pakistan and wished that the English side visits the country soon, vowing to support revival of sports in Pakistan.
Published in Daily Times, September 5th 2017.