LAHORE, May 22 Abdul Samad Mir, the only Pakistani boxer to have achieved the distinction of getting the 'Best Boxer of Asia' award following outstanding performance in the 4th Asian Boxing Championship held at Phillippines in 1970 died after a protracted illness here early on Friday.

Known as a daring boxer, Lt Col Abdul Samad Mir also happened to be the only Pakistani boxer to have won a solitary medal in the 1970 Commonwealth Games at Edinburgh in the featherweight category. He also pocketed a bronze during the 6th Asian Games at Bangkok the same year and also at the International Ankara Meet in 1975. The 1968 National Games at Dacca saw him taking gold. He was also adjudged 'Best Boxer' in the 1970, 73 and 75 editions in Karachi.

Samad also conducted various boxing coaching courses for the national team as well as his department Pakistan Army. He was the chief boxing coach for Pakistan during the 11th Asian Games in Beijing in 1990.

The government of Pakistan had also decorated him with Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his great contribution to the sport of boxing.—Agencies