PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s Sajjad Hazara and Yamin Khan knocked out Afghanistan’s Haseenullah, and Haroon Khan respectively in their title fights of the Usman Wazir International Professional Boxing competitions here at the Lala Aman Boxing Arena on Tuesday.

Twenty boxers from Pakistan and Afghanistan took part in the event.

Sajjad upset Haseenullah on points in a fast paced four-round fight with both the pugilists having showered punches on each other.

Sajjad’s one and two combinations succeeded in putting Haseenullah on the back foot. It was a four-round bout but Sajjad knocked out his rival in the third round as the referee stopped the fight looking after injured Haseenullah.

Haroon in the super welter and Hamid Khan in light weight are taking part.

The fights were to continue till midnight with a total nine fights being held featuring 18 boxers of Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is worth mentioning here that the Directorate of Sports KP is organising the International Professional Boxing Competitions with UW (Usman Wazir), the Asian gold medallist.

In other fights, Saif Ali But (Pakistan) beat Shoaib (Pakistan) in feather weight, Mohammad Saqib overcame Amjid Rasool in Minimum weight on points, Adil Saeed (Pakistan) defeated compatriot Sardar Nouman on points and Zahoor Abbas (Pakistan) knocked out Wahid Bakhash Sangi (Pakistan) in the third round. In the title fight Pakistan’s Yamin Khan knocked out Haroon Khan of Afghanistan in the third round of super welter 6 round bout.

“The title fight between Pakistan and Afghanistan boxers was aimed at enhancing sports ties between the two countries,” said Afghan boxer Abdul Hameed.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2021