LAHORE, July 29 The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) has extended an invitation to British world light-welterweight boxing champion Amir Iqbal Khan as a special guest during the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Cup International Boxing Tournament in Karachi.

The invitation to the boxing prodigy of Pakistan origin was extended through a telephone call made to his parents by PBF chief Doda Khan Bhutto.

Doda Khan congratulated Amir's father Sajjad Khan on his son winning the world welter title recently.

The PBF is planning to hold an international boxing tournament at the Expo Centre here from Oct 22 to 29. Thirty-five nations from across the globe have been invited for the event.

He said Amir's father Sajjad accepted the invitation while assuring that the boxer will be visiting Pakistan to attend the ceremony.

“They will be confirming the dates next month after going through Amir's schedule,” he said.

Amir's parents are originally from Rawalpindi. He won the light-welter weight world championship title after defeating Andreas Kotelink on July 18, 2009 to gain the status of Britain's third-youngest world champion after Naseem Hamed and Herbie Hide.

He is also the former Commonwealth lightweight champion, WBO Inter-continental lightweight champion and WBA international lightweight champion.

President PBF has announced a gold medal for him while Vice President Iqbal Hussain said a grand dinner where the boxer will be presented with a gold crown will be hosted in his honour.—APP