ISLAMABAD: Organisers of Pakistan’s richest boxing event, the 2nd Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Championship, received a setback on Wednesday when all hopes of ex-world champion Mike Tyson attending the opening ceremony vanished while current sensation Amir Khan could also not make himself available for the inauguration.

The event is set to be staged here in Islamabad from Dec 22-29 at the Liauqat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex.

According to the initial statements given by president of the Pakistan Boxing Federation, Mike Tyson was to attend the opening ceremony along with British-born Pakistani boxer Amir Khan.

However, none of the two famous personalities will now make it to the opening ceremony. President PBF Doda Khan Bhutto told Dawn: “There is no word from Tyson despite the fact that we have constantly tried to get in touch with and have also approached him through email.

“It is possible that he (Tyson) was refused permission to travel to Pakistan by the US government.”

When asked about the availability of young boxing icon Amir Khan for the opening ceremony, Doda Khan said: “Amir was not available to open the event. Instead he will be available on the closing day of the championship.”

The federation’s president added that Amir will be landing in Islamabad on Dec 27 to close the event. “Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will grace the opening ceremony at the championship,” he said.

“Our boxers are very much in form and hopefully they will create a stir during the championship. Our boxers Haroon and Waseem and a few others are very much in form and have the potential to win the event.”

Doda added that boxers from almost all the 27 nations have already arrived.