LAHORE: In the winter of 2011, Antonela Maria Obreja visited Pakistan for the first time.

So impressed she was by the standard of the country’s amateur boxers during the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto International Boxing Tournament in Islamabad that the World Boxing Council (WBC) International Promoter from Spain decided to bring professional boxing to Pakistan.

“There was good amount of talent on show during that tournament,” Obreja told Dawn in an interview on Sunday. “But I was left thinking what would become of such talent once they cross 25 [the age-limit for amateur boxers]. That is where I decided to bring professional boxing to Pakistan.”

Pakistan has had a history of producing amateur boxers – none more famous than Hussain Shah who won bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

But the transition to professional boxing never took place for him or the others who followed with the exception of Haider Ali. The 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist became professional but his career was short-lived.

Since then, no one else has gone pro. That was because Pakistan was never affiliated with the WBC.

All that changed in November last year when Pakistan became a member of the WBC.

“It was a pity that all the talent Pakistan was producing — and all that it has the potential to produce — was going to waste after the boxers reached the age of 25,” Obreja continues. “They could go to the Olympics, the Asian Games and other events but there was no future for them.

“After participating at the amateur level, boxers make the move to the professional level which is bigger, better and glitzier.

“Pakistan boxers would never have had that chance although they have to potential to cut it with the best professional boxers in the world — especially in the light welterweight category.”

For that, though, the boxers would need licenses by the WBC. Similarly, that would also mean their trainers and promoters are licensed with the boxing body formed in 1963.

“It will all be a legalised set-up where these boxers, trainers and promoters are trained and licensed,” Obreja informs. “They will come on the international rankings and with every fight they win, they will improve on it.

“For the boxers, they initially start with four rounds in a pro bout, then they go on to six and then to eight and finally to ten and so on.

“For their training, they will need professionally-educated trainers [who will be educated by the WBC].

“Good training will mean a world of possibility for the boxers.”

For that, Obreja joined hands with entrepreneur Umer Toor and Syed Nauman Shah and they decided to launch the Pakistan Premier Boxing League (PPBL) — an initiative approved by the WBC.

They were later joined by former federal minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi. The inaugural season of the PPBL is scheduled to be held in April in Lahore this year. “The PPBL will be the platform for all aspiring youngsters who have played at amateur level and want to become pros,” Obreja tells.

“The PPBL will decide the national professional champion of the country and then he will be eligible to take part in the Asian title bouts and further on at intercontinental level and finally for the WBC championship.”

The inaugural season will also showcase international boxers and there could also be a first ever WBC title fight in the country.

“By getting the license from the WBC, we can hold title fights in Pakistan,” Umer, the Chief Executive Officer of the PPBL, informs. “This will be phenomenal for the country where there has been a severe lack of international sport.

“For the inaugural season, we’ve roped in a few international boxers and there will be around 20 local pugilists who will be trained by international trainers.

“We will also offer continuous support for training and development of professional boxers in line with developments and performance requirements.

“Not only that, but they will also be rewarded financially and be given many incentives. This will give boxers in Pakistan a new lease of life once they go past the age limit for amateur boxing.”

Shedding light on the format, Umer tells that the PPBL would be styled like the Indian Premier League (IPL) — the most glamorous T20 cricket tournament in the world.

“For this, we will contact boxing clubs in the country. They will be licensed by the PPBL,” he stated. “With the talent in Pakistan I’m pretty sure that the PPBL will pave the way for a WBC champion from Pakistan in the future.”