PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s top boxer Kamran Abdul Wahab knocked out Afghanistan’s top pugilist Hamid Khan in a surprising second round of the eight-round lightweight title fight in the Usman Wazir International Professional Boxing competitions here at the Lala Aman Boxing Arena on Wednesday.The eight-round fight was reduced to just two rounds when Kamran showered his hammer-like punches and knocked out his rival.

Hailing from Peshawar, Kamran got a slow start in the first round but then showered repeated punches in the second round which could not be sustained Hamid.

Kamran displayed good footwork and command over his one and two combination of punches with right and left hands that steered him to victory against a super-fit Hamid who offered resistance in the first round and was leading by points but in the second round the Pakis­tani boxer totally changed the match in his favour.

It is worth mentioning here that all three top Afghan boxers Haseenullah, Haroon Khan and Hamid Khan lost to Pakistani boxers Sajjad Hazara, Yamin Khan and Kamran Abdul Wahab in the knockout feather, super-welter and light weight battles, respectively.

Special Assistant to KP Chief Minister for Information and Higher Education Kamran Bangash, who was the chief guest on the occasion, announced on behalf of Khyber Pakhtun­khwa CM Rs100,000 for Kamran while Rs50,000 for Hamid.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2021