GILGIT: Prominent Pakistan boxer Usman Wazir knocked out Thailand’s Phatiphan Krungklang to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia welterweight title in the International Professional Boxing Festival in Gilgit on Saturday evening.

The 22-year-old Usman, who hails from Gilgit-Baltistan and is nicknamed Asian Boy, knocked out his opponent in the second round to land the WBA Asian title in style at the Lalik Jan Stadium where foolproof security arrangements had been made.

Another Pakistan boxer Asif Hazara in a unanimous decision defeated Rexi Akbar of Indonesia in ten rounds to claim the WBA South Asia super flyweight title.

Shafiullah, also from Pakistan, won his fight against Indonesia’s Edward Torres of the Philippines while his compatriot Sikandar Abbasi lost his bout to Ebola of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Raheela, a female Pakistan boxer from Gilgit-Baltistan, fought compatriot Zainab from Quetta which ended in a tie.

Addressing fans after winning the title, Usman said it was the biggest boxing festival in the history of Pakistan.

The victorious boxer lamented that the GB government didn’t support the festival. It emerged that despite an invitation, no representative from the Gilgit-Baltistan government attended the event.

Boxers from Indonesia, Thailand, UAE, Philippines, Nigeria, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Korea and hosts Pakistan participated in the event.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2022