ISLAMABAD: Professional boxing is set to flourish in the country as the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) has finally validated the Pakistan Professional Boxing League (PPBL) and allowed it to hold its first ever professional league involving foreign pugilists.

“Yes, we’ve authorised the PPBL to hold its pro boxing league on the pattern of AIBA. We are sure it will promote professional boxing in the country,” PBF president Mohammad Khalid Mahmood told APP on Wednesday.

“This is a watershed moment. This has happened after almost a year of planning and working on how the PPBL can support the PBF in the development and promotion of boxing in Pakistan,” PPBL president Syed Nauman Shah said while commenting on the development.

“We are thankful to the PBF for officially recognising us and supporting our endeavours to launch and operate Pakistan’s first-ever Professional Boxing League.”

He said PBF’s endorsement had come at a very crucial stage as the PPBL was set to hold Arabian Sea Title Fight in Islamabad by the end of next month.

“This will help promote boxing in Pakistan and enable our pugilists to match international standards, and also pursue their Olympic dreams,” Nauman said.

According to Nauman, currently there were around 90 professional boxers in Pakistan, including five female pugilists.

“Our acceptance will provide a permanent, viable professional career path to country’s boxers. I’m sure their number will witness a remarkable rise in the days to come,” he added.

Meanwhile, PBF and PPBL also constituted the Professional Boxing Management Committee to regulate professional boxing activities in Pakistan in accordance with the PBF and AIBA rules.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019