Confusion surrounding the World Boxing Council ‘Pearl Belt’ being on the line for Amir Khan v Neeraj Goyat has been explained.
Fans wondered what the status of the sanctioning was when Khan made the announcement on Friday.
It’s now been confirmed that the strap is just a one-off commission by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.
“King” Khan from Bolton, England, of Pakistani heritage, faces India’s national boxing hero Goyat from Chandigarh. The specially commissioned World Boxing Council Pearl Welterweight Championship will be fought for over twelve rounds.
It’s similar to the WBC “Money Belt” that was created for the super-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor in 2017.
The winner of Khan v Goyat will walk away with the one-off belt. The strap will be individually made to honour the history-making boxing event taking place in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The WBC Pearl Championship belt will be officially unveiled. It will go on display on the final stop of the media tour in Jeddah on 24th June.
Sulaiman said: “I’m truly honoured that the WBC will provide this historic fight in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a beautifully crafted championship title belt. It will reflect on the enormous magnitude of the occasion.
“The finest craftsmen will spend many hours and days. They’ll produce a stunning and invaluable one-off belt that the winner of the fight will have truly deserved.”
KHAN
Khan added special praise for the honor.
“Thank you to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman for recognising this historic fight in Saudi Arabia by commissioning a special Pearl Championship belt to be made. It will be fiercely fought for between me and Goyat,” he stated.
Two-Time World Champion Khan and opponent Goyat came face-to-face for the first time in Delhi, India to formally announce their big-fight.
“Nations Connect” takes place on Friday 12th July. The King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia will host.
The press tour will continue tomorrow in Karachi, Pakistan. Before heading to London, England next Thursday (6 June) and then Jeddah, KSA (24 June).
WBN has been informed the Khan v Goyat fight is not an exhibition as speculated in some portions of the media this week.
