Olympic Gold medalist, British Amir Khan becomes chairman of PPBB, father president
Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD: Olympic Gold medalist British boxer Amir Khan became the chairman of Pakistan Professional Boxing Body (PPBB), while his father Shajaad Khan and uncle Tahir Khan would act as president and secretary, respectively, of the organization.
While unfolding the details of PPBB, Amir Khan said in a press conference here at the National Press Club (NPC) on Thursday. “Our basic aim is to provide maximum opportunities to budding boxers and to train technical officials, which could meet the international standard. We will promote professional boxing in the country, and provide full assistance to talented fighters. PPBB will also introduce a transparent, safe, and professionally managed boxing system in line with global standards. The professional boxing event is expected to be held on February 10 next year, “he revealed.
Speaking on the occasion, Amir Khan highlighted the shortage of boxing academies and modern training facilities in Pakistan, saying that the country, particularly areas such as Lyari in Karachi, has immense boxing talent but lacks the necessary infrastructure to develop young fighters. He urged the government to support the establishment of boxing academies by providing unused sports complexes and available government land. “Many talented Pakistani boxers are compelled to leave the country or represent other nations because of financial difficulties and the high costs associated with international competitions, “he lamented.
“Pakistani boxers are recognised for their talent in the United Kingdom and other Western countries, but the country still lacks an effective professional boxing structure capable of taking local athletes to the international level. In the past, controversial decisions, poor management, and a lack of transparency had discouraged several promising fighters. PPBB is established through private-sector efforts and will not depend on government funding or public resources. We will provide legal representatives, experienced referees, judges, and technical experts to ensure that competitions are conducted in accordance with international rules and regulations, “he replied a question.
He further said that PPBB would develop links and pursue affiliations with leading international boxing organisations, including the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO), and Commonwealth Boxing, aiming to provide Pakistani fighters opportunities to compete for international titles.
He emphasised that athletes' health and safety would remain the board's top priority. Mandatory medical examinations, fitness assessments and other necessary health checks would be introduced before competitions. Strict measures would also be taken to prevent unauthorised individuals from entering the ring and to ensure that boxers with significantly different experience levels and professional records are not unfairly matched.
On this occasion, President PPBB Shajjad Khan said that the development of professional boxing in Pakistan would begin with improving the technical skills and qualifications of officials. National and international-standard training courses would be organised for referees and judges, while their performance and expertise would be regularly assessed. Only qualified officials would be assigned responsibilities during competitions to ensure fair and transparent decisions. He added that the board would study successful boxing commission models from the United Kingdom and other developed countries to introduce a safe and well-organised professional boxing structure in Pakistan.
General Secretary Tahir Khan said that the board's primary objective was to provide international recognition to Pakistani boxers, referees and judges. He noted that Pakistani boxing officials currently lacked the international recognition necessary for the sport's development. “Proper records of registered fighters and officials would be maintained, while cooperation with international boxing organisations would help them gain access to overseas competitions and world-level titles. The body also aims to create opportunities for Pakistani referees and judges to officiate at Asian and international boxing events.
Director Legal Affairs Sultan Qamar Afzal said: “A strong legal and regulatory framework is essential for the future of professional boxing in Pakistan. The body will focus on legal requirements, regulations and the protection of athletes' rights to establish an environment in which fighters could compete with confidence. Talent alone is not enough to succeed in professional boxing, stressing the importance of consistent training, financial support, opportunities and international exposure. The basic objective is to provide athletes with a proper platform to realise their potential. The board is also taking steps to ensure that competition results and professional records of boxers are maintained on recognised international platforms, preventing unauthorised changes and allowing their performances to be verified globally”.
