Super Boxing League (SBL), the first league of its kind in Pakistan, will kick off following an inauguration ceremony on September 28 and continue till November 3 this year.

Founder and CEO of the ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal, who also owns PSL franchise Karachi Kings, and boxer Amir Khan will jointly serve as the boxing league’s chairman.

The tournament will see eight teams owned by cricketing and showbiz celebrities locking horns for the title.

Out of the eight teams, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi owns Pakhtoon Warriors, legendary pacer Wasim Akram bought Multan Nawabs, singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan owns Faisalabad Falcons, while SBL Co-Chairman Salman Iqbal and actor Fahad Mustafa jointly own Karachi Cobras.

Each team will comprise of 10 males and two females, including three international players, in the squad.

The SBL tournament will be held between September 28 and November 3 at Amir Khan Boxing Academy, Islamabad.

The renowned boxer in May announced his plans to bring the league to Pakistan.

Amir Khan said that he aimed to provide the right training to potential boxers which would help in producing more professional world champions.

“I believe Pakistan can produce many Muhammad Alis,” Amir Khan had said in a statement issued with announcement of the league.

Salman Iqbal also expressed hope that the league will introduce Pakistan’s talented young boxers to the world.

“I am very excited to be the co-chairman of Super Boxing League Pakistan along with Amir Khan and Bill Dosanjh. SBL will be a force to reckon with in the boxing fraternity. SBL will get recognition for Pakistani boxing talent at a global level. It’s a milestone for every upcoming boxing talent in Pakistan. We are proud to nurture these pugilists and I am sure they will make their soil proud by representing themselves globally as the icons of SBL Pakistan very soon,” Salman Iqbal had said in his message.

SBL Pakistan will be organized in association with Punjab Sports Board (PSB) and World Boxing Council (WBC).

For a transparent and successful inaugural edition of SBL Pakistan, WBC will be supervising the entire tournament, where the best of Pakistani and international talent and present world class, captivating fights will take place.

The event will spread over six weeks of adrenaline and pure thrill with league fights.

Each of the six matches will feature five male fights and one female fight ensuring diversity and magnetism of the event is comprehensive.

The league, in its first season, will have a mix of experience and youth with bringing in talent across the  Featherweight – 57 kg, Welterweight – 66.7kg, Middleweight – 72.57 kg, Super Middleweight- 76.2 kg, Heavyweight – unlimited and Female super fly – 52.16 kg categories.

For Pakistan, the Live telecast rights will go to the highest bidding broadcaster. While globally, SBL has signed agreements with Fox Network for Asian markets, Tencent – QQ Penguin for China and with Sky Sports for New Zealand providing broadcasting outreach over 900 million homes in more than 50 countries.

Here is the brief introduction of the owners and promoters of upcoming glorious Super Boxing League Pakistan — boxing champ Amir Khan, media mogul Salman Iqbal and SBL founder Bill Dosanjh.

Amir Khan

Amir Khan is olympic champion, Commonwealth Games medalist and British-Asian pro boxer. At the age of 17, he became Britain’s youngest medalist and is also the youngest British world boxing champion. He has been instrumental in launching Super Fight League with partner Bill Dosanjh and chairs the brand.

Outside of boxing, he is a philanthropist with his own charity organisation, Amir Khan Foundation. He is also the owner of Khan Promotions and Pakistan’s Amir Khan Academy.

Salman Iqbal

Salman Iqbal is the Founder/ CEO of the ARY Digital Network. He holds a Business Degree from the University of Houston. He is one of the world’s youngest media entrepreneurs.

Along with leading the media business he is also involved in various areas of the ARY family businesses like treasury and construction. He joins the Super Boxing League board as Co-Chairman.

Bill Dosanjh

Bill Dosanjh is a Brit Indian business tycoon. He has been associated with Khan Promotions, runs his own brand East West Sports and has launched his partner Amir Khan in USA in 2009. He is a visionary of combat sports globally, Super Fight League, and Super Boxing League is his brainchild.