KARACHI, Nov 28: Eleven top outfits will compete for top honours in the national boxing championship from Jan 13 to 16 in Lahore, officials said Thursday.

Apart from hosts Wapda, the premier tournament will be participated by Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, NWFP, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, Karachi Port Trust, and Railways.

It will be organized in 11 weight categories instead of 12 after the Pakistan Amateur Boxing Federation (PABF) dropped one weight (light-welterweight) on the directions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The new weight divisions in which the bouts will be held are; light-flyweight (45-48kg); flyweight (48-51kg); bantamweight (51-54kg); featherweight (54-57kg); lightweight (57-60kg); welterweight (60-64kg); light-middleweight (64-69kg); middleweight (69-75kg); light-heavyweight (75-81kg); heavyweight (81-91kg); and super-heavyweight (91kg plus).

The national coach Reinaldo Alvarez Ulicia will select 24 to 30 probables on the basis of their performance during the championship for March 29 to April 7 SAF Games in Islamabad.