By Kamran Hashim / Rafiq Vayani
KARACHI: Boxing enthusiasts and sports junkies in Pakistan are about to experience for the first time ever, a boxing league like none other. Super Boxing League (SBL) comes to Pakistan as Amir ‘King’ Khan takes the responsibility to revive this sport in his homeland.
On Thursday, June 21, 2018, management committee, team owners, sponsors and advocates came together for a press conference at the Karachi Marriott Hotel (Crystal Ballroom) to announce ‘Super Boxing League Pakistan. Amir Khan and other prominent names like Salman Iqbal, Shahid Afridi, Saif Malik, Ali Sheikh, Nadeem Omer, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and many more from all walks of life and achievement were present to inaugurate this historic sporting event.
SBL Pakistan is due to start on 28th September 2018 and it will be a 06 week extravaganza concluding on 03rd November 2018. This one-of-a-kind, first ever professional boxing tournament, Super Boxing League (SBL) Pakistan will be organized in association with Punjab Sports Board (PSB) & World Boxing Council (WBC) at the Amir Khan Boxing Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan.
For a transparent and successful inaugural edition of SBL Pakistan, WBC will be supervising the entire tournament, the best of Pakistani and international talent and present world class, captivating fights. The series will comprise of 8 franchise teams from major cities of the country.
Eight (08) teams will be participating competing against each other in two (02) groups of four (04) teams each. There will be Twelve (12) qualifying events spread over the period of four (04) weeks, followed by two (02) semi-finals during the fifth week and finally third and fourth place and final will be held during the 06th week.
SBL Pakistan in its first season has a mix of experience and youth with bringing in talent across the following categories: Feather-Weight 57 kg, Welter-Weight 66.7 kg, Middle-Weight 72.57 kg, Super Middle-Weight- 76.20 kg, Heavy-Weight and unlimited and Female super fly-weight 52.16 kg.
Eight teams will be participating in the first edition of SBL Pakistan and each team will comprise of 10 male and 2 female in their squad to hold the fort for their respective franchises. Eight teams participating are Karachi Cobras, Quetta Gladiators, Faisalabad Falcons, Islamabad Kings, Sialkot Shers, Lahore Rams, Pakhtoon Warriors and Multan Nawabs.
SBL Pakistan has a unique point scoring system, on each fight its allows to give +1 point at for draw, referee decision +3 points to winner, technical knockout +4 to winner and knockout +6 to winner.
