KARACHI, Oct 7: Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) on Tuesday categorically said that the selection of two Pakistan boxing teams for the Green Hill Cup International Boxing Tournament was purely made by Cuban coach Reinaldo Alveraz Ulicia and federation had nothing do with the selection matter.

A spokesman of the PBF expressed surprise over a news item, published in a section of press and termed its content baseless, unfounded and totally false and aimed at maligning the federation at the juncture when an international tournament was going to be held here and foreign teams had already arrived.

“Everybody knows that boxing team is selected by national coach and this is no exception for Cuban coach.

Our two star boxers Asghar Ali Shah and Meharullah have been taking part in international tournaments for the last one year in light-welterweight and featherweight categories.

But Cuban coach has observed that their weights were disadvantageous according to their heights and if they shed the weights they would show better performance in lower weights and they would have better chances in the Olympic Games,” he said.

He further said that the coach had discussed the matter with PBF three months ago and it was decided that the boxers would reduce their weight by one kg.

“It is not an unusual thing and happens in the sports boxing. The PBF has also discussed the matter with doctors to know effects on the health of boxers in case they reduce their weights.

The doctors have also suggested that the reduction in weights would not affect their general health.

Now Reinaldo hopes that they will perform more better in lightweight and bantamweight categories than their previous weights,” the spokesman said.

As far as the selection of new boxers is concerned, the PBF spokesman said that federation has decided in the national interest to introduce new talented boxers.

“The coach has selected 25 boxers from National Ranking Tournament but in some weights he was not satisfied with the lot selected from the tournament and had called boxers from various departments in the camp.

He found them better than the selected from Ranking Tournament during sparring and camp training and inducted them in the Pakistan team.

Same is the case of super-heavyweight boxer, who was selected by coach in view of his performance in the past and in the camp as well,” he said.