KARACHI: Boxing icon and global sporting phenomenon Amir Khan will make history when he goes up against the formidable Neeraj Goyat in a fight taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday, 12th July 2019.

Addressing a crowded press conference in here on Friday, the two-time world champion “King” Khan from Bolton, England, of Pakistani heritage announced that he will face India’s national boxing hero Neeraj Goyat, the WBC Asian Champion, in a massive showdown with a world title on the line. Both fighters will be exchanging blows, vying for World Boxing Championship (WBC) Pearl Belt.

The WBC Pearl Belt is a very special championship belt second only to the Floyd Mayweather Connor McGreggor Money Belt. Mauricio Sulaiman, President WBC has been hailed as the person who made it possible. The WBC Pearl Belt will be showcased at the event’s London press conference to be held in the upcoming days.

Commenting Amir Khan said, “This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity to headline in Saudi Arabia and I would like to thank HRH Mohammed bin Salman and the Government for the honour of allowing us to fight in The Kingdom. For the first time a British-Pakistani boxer will fight an Indian boxer and it will truly bring together the two nations in a sporting contest.”

Amir will become the first high-profile Muslim boxer to showcase his skills at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. As a devout practitioner of Islam and a sporting role model, Amir’s presence in Saudi Arabia promises to transcend cultural boundaries and capture the imaginations of the millions of citizens living in the MENA region.

Amir’s rival Neeraj Goyat is a phenomenon in his home country. Hailing from Chandigarh, Goyat is a pioneer in helping to establish professional boxing in India and currently holds the WBC Asian crown.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2019