In the past, top boxers like Shah Hussain Shah had to travel to England, US or even Thailand to participate in the professional circuit, but local pugilists can now enjoy the opportunity at home. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Pakistan has become the newest member of the World Boxing Council (WBC), where the country will be represented in the professional circuit for the first time.
Up until now, the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) had been affiliated with the International Amateur Boxing Association. However, a Pakistan delegation from the newly formed Pakistan Professional Boxing League (PPBL) is participating for the first time in history in the ongoing 51st World Boxing Council Convention in Thailand.
“It is a big step for Pakistan boxing because this is the first time our country will be part of the professional circuit after 66 years of our existence as a nation,” PPBL Chief Operating Officer Umer Toor told The Express Tribune.
“The formation of the league means that we can hold international professional boxing events in Pakistan.”
In the past, top boxers like Shah Hussain Shah had to travel to England, US or even Thailand to participate in the professional circuit, but local pugilists can now enjoy the opportunity at home.
“Boxers from other countries can also participate in our events,” added Toor. “It’s going to be a big change and a historic step.”
He further said that the event will be organised on the model of the Indian Premier League, while adding that Spanish promoter Antonela Maria Obreja of the WBC is also visiting Pakistan to gain the know-how of the sport in the country.
According to Toor, the PPBL is not affiliated with the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (32)
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Exactly what Pakistan needed. Great work Sir! Good luck.
This tremendous success shows that we Pakistanis still have the power to excel in every walk of life.Proud to be a part of the enthusiastic, energetic and dynamic Pakistan. Wish u all the best Sir ;)
Great effort by Umer Toor :) Wish u all the very best :)
Pakistan - a young generation dominated country, demonstrates tremendous potential to excell in this field.our coastal belt, Balochistan,s Hazara youth, Baloch youth 4m Makran coastal areas, karachi layari area, Punjab youth, Pashtuns 4m Tribal areas and settled areas and likewise many other such areas in pakistan atleast have a platform - PPBL, now to exhibit their capabilities and potential. we hope and that Allah SWT may be its Guide and Protector A'ameen
Mr.Toor and his team doing very good job for Pakistan's Boxing. Inshallah, they'll succeed in their plan and help the boys who want to become Professional Boxer.
Great work (y) I appreciate and pray for the team of Pakistan.Good Luck.
Great work (y) I appreciate and pray for the team of Pakistan . Good Luck
Mr Toor and the team may be patted for a job done splendidly. It is not only the encouragement of sports loving people of Pakistan but a much needed step towards projection of the soft image of the country. Countries are there which spend excessively through airing paid contents, portraying the soft image of their respective countries. But it is a genuine endeavour. The effort of the team is commendable as it was dire need of time. Glad, at least someone did it after 66 years of age. The nation owe to the efforts of the team. Well done and continue doing great. Pakistan Zinda Baad.
Its very encouraging for the hidden talent of Boxing in Pakistan.This will provide an opportunity to all those players who due to financial constraints could not go abroad to participate in WBC championship.In a long run we may find a very prominent position in future.This in other words will improve and promote positive image of Pakistan.
Encouraging sports like Boxing that too in absence of infrastructure,coaching and in the wake of deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan ,shows the dedication, love and determination for promoting boxing and healthier and peaceful Pakistan.The formation of PPBL and its registration and affiliation with WBC is a very positive step in promoting Boxing in Pakistan.This will at least provide an opportunity inside and abroad to the hidden talent of Boxing AVAILABLE in this country.In long run this will bring forward the BOXING talent and definitely hopes are there for Pakistan to earn a very prominent position in Future.
It's not every day we get to hear good stuff like that. This is quite remarkable and I'm behind you on this. Giving a platform to the boxers and giving them this chance to flourish. Thumbs up! Let's hope this brings out some talented men! All the best!
Its a wonderful news not only for Pakistani boxers and boxing loving people but also for the Pakistani nation as whole. I must say it would be played a great role for Pakistan's image building. It should be done way back in 1950's. Though its very late still its better be late than never. I offer my heartiest congratulations to CEO Mr.Umer Toor who has done this great job for our great nation and country. May Allah SWT gives many success to Pakistani boxers at international professional level. Ameen. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.
I am a member of a Martial Arts society (The Dragon Society) and I have played Kung Fu. I have seen many guys having telent but thay could not play at international level so the steps should be taken to provoke our young talent in Martial Arts also and specially Boxing. Majority of boxers are out of ring because of lake of plate form in Pakistan. Thay have to go out of country for the international level. The current effort by Ummar Toor is remarkable effort towards better future of Pakistani Boxing. I will humbly request to the Government, local bodies and private sector to support Pakistani Talent. I personally respect every step towards glori of our mother land PAKISTAN.
Pakistani talent should never be underestimate. We can make wonders if right platform is there. Let's congratulate our talent for their remarkable performance.
Pakistani talent should never be underestimated. We can make wonders if right platform is there. Let's congratulate our talent for their remarkable performance.
No dough PAKISTAN has the superpower and PAKISTAN has the great talent in boxing. PAKISTAN is one of the best country which have the talent in all aspects but due to mismanagement we waste the best of the best talent.
We pray for our team. and ALLAH help us to make our team shine star in every time.
proud to be a PAKISTANI.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.
Great...
No doubt Pakistan is Full of Talent.
Pakistan has amazing talent in boxing. We have shown great progress and achievements in Olympics and Asian Games.
Very good luck to our team. May Allah help them.
I appreciate & Pray for the team of Pakistan.
No doubt Pakistan is full of talent and has amazing talent in Boxing but it needs more training and more facilities. Despite of acute shortage of World Class Boxers and International Standard Coaches Pakistan have shown Great Progress & Achievements and Won many Medals in Olympics and Asian Games.
Very good luck to our team. May ALLAH help them.
thumbs up (y) grateful work such jobs will help to remove the label "terrorists" from our country
Great change for Pakistan sports, at last we are being recognized as a sports loving nation instead of terroriste. The effort must be appreciated and given the best possible sport by the whole nation and top of Government must play a very positive role to make it a success story.
My father, who died years before, was an enthusiastic fan of boxing and wrestling. We grew up watching legends like Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay), Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Pakistan's middleweight Syed Hussain Shah on the screens. We always dreamed of watching the sport in real, played out in Pakistan. At last, with the forming of Pakistan Professional Boxing League (PPBL) our dream may come true. Forming of PPBL will provide opportunities for the Pakistani professional boxers to excel, sport fans to enjoy the game at home and the community as a whole by its positive impacts and benefits. The boxing events will also help in improving the image of Pakistan. We must laud the efforts of PPBL's Chief Operation Officer Mr Umer Toor, for converting the dreams, our dreams, into reality. Congratulations.
Finally, we can enhance our boxing industry with potential boxers who will represent our country on an international level. Hence, they will eradicate our country's negative image aswell as will cultivate Pakistani talent.
Boxing is the sport of the brave, agile and diciplined. It takes a lot of training, focus and commitment. These are certain qualities that are needed for sucess in any field. We hope that our boys will fight with sportsperson's spirit and take the challenge with courage. On their way back they will be more refined as travelling is a form of learning too. They will make frinds in the boxing rings and their surroundings. Mr Toor dont forget to take these boxing boys on a Chao Phraya River cruise and invite boxers from other conutries to visit Saiful Malook Lake, Lahore Fort and Pakistani Universities. Life is about exchanging good things and sports provide an opprtunity to do so.
Boxing is an excellent sport. It requires extraordinary skill, agility, stemina and courage - all bounded by rules of the game, thus using energy with discipline. It teaches people to be brave and winning and losing by facing punches in the face with grace. Pakistan Army uses the sport of boxing to gauge the fear factor in cadets. Those, who duck down fearfully in their bouts, stand the chance of being weeded out from the service because military needs the brave. Novices boxing of the military academy also brings out good boxing talent. It is a positive sign that boxing is comming up as a good and healthy activity in which Pakistani civilian youth have an opportunity to grow. Buck up, Mr Toor and the boxers going to Thailand. Do not forget to take the boxing boys for Chao Phraya River Cruise after their bouts. They can then invite their boxing opponents to visit the valley of Hunza and dine in the food street of Lahore after visiting Lahore Fort and Sheesh Mahal. Enjoy the good part of life, fight with sportsperson's spirt.
Finnaly some work done in the boxing sports... I wish the PPBL achieves the sucess at its best.....
Great work done.. .till now we've been known 'terrorists' all over the world,i hope such activities may bring a positive image of our country. Appreciated
This is a great moment for All Pakistani's In the time when Pakistan is facing hard times Politically & Economically, this seems like a great news. I wonder, what have we been doing for 66 Years. Finally some one has come up a positive step. I appreciate & Pray for the team of Pakistan Professional Boxing League. Lets look forward to have some champions in the ring with the flag of Pakistan. Good Luck Pakistan Professional Boxing League.