Daily Times

KARACHI: Renowned boxer Amir Khan on Thursday launched Pakistan’s first professional boxing league in a star-studded event Marriott Hotel here. The event led under the vision of two-time world champion Amir Khan and promoted by the British business tycoon Bill Dosanjh is aptly named ‘Super Boxing League.’ ARY Digital Network CEO Salman Iqbal and Amir Khan will jointly serve as boxing league’s chairman of the tournament which will see eight teams owned by cricketing and showbiz celebrities locking horns for the title. The teams are named after major cities of the country including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot and Quetta. Each team will comprise of 10 males and two females in squad to hold the fort for their respective franchises. Out of the eight teams, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi owns Pakhtoon Warriors, legendary pacer Wasim Akram bought Multan Nawabs, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan owns Faisalabad Falcons, while ARY’s Salman and actor Fahad Mustafa jointly own Karachi Cobras.

“Pakistan has a huge talent pool for boxing. A lot of aspiring athletes wish to turn professional and they all just need the right platform. The SBL gives fighters that opportunity and we will ensure these professional athletes get the recognition they deserve,” founder and Dosanjh said while announcing the league. Amir was of the view that he aimed to provide the right training to potential boxers which would help in producing more professional world champions. “I believe Pakistan can produce many Muhammad Alis,” Amir said in a statement.

SBL Pakistan will be organized in association with the Punjab Sports Board (PSB) and the World Boxing Council (WBC) from September 28, 2018 to November 03, 2018 at the Amir Khan Boxing Academy in Islamabad. For a transparent and successful inaugural edition SBL Pakistan, the WBC will be supervising the entire tournament, the best of Pakistan and international talent and present world class, captivating fights. The event will spread over six weeks of adrenaline and pure thrill with league fights.

Each of the six matches will feature five male fights and one female fight ensuring diversity and magnetism of the event is comprehensive. The league, in its first season, will have a mix of experience and youth with bringing in talent across the featherweight 57kg, welterweight 66.7kg,m- 72.57kg, super middleweight 76.2kg, heavy weight – unlimited and female super fly 52.16kg categories. For Pakistan, the live telecast rights will go to the highest bidding broadcaster. While globally, the SBL has signed agreements with Fox Network for Asian markets, Tencent – QQ Penguin for China and with Sky Sports for New Zealand providing broadcasting outreach over 900 million homes in more than 50 countries.

Published in Daily Times, June 22^nd 2018.