Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim was today appointed as the Royal Patron of the Johor Boxing Association.

Johor Football Association (PBNJ) in its official Facebook entry said the Johor Boxing Association would also be rebranded to be called 'Johor Darul Ta'zim Boxing Team', and use the same logo as JDT.

"It is TMJ's vision to follow in the footsteps of European clubs like Barcelona, whereby other sports are pooled under one club's name. In time to come all sports associations in Johor will be rebranded," said PBNJ.

Meanwhile, national boxing champion Mohd Farkhan Haron, who has turned professional, thanked Tunku Ismail for accepting the appointment.

The 2009 Laos SEA Games gold medallist thanked TMJ for his support and assistance that enabled him to undergo training at a leading boxing club in the USA for two years.

Farkhan is undergoing training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, which is owned by world boxing legend Freddie Roach.

Farkhan claimed his first professional career title by winning the Asia Pacific Boxing Association belt after beating Asian champion Hendrik Aritonang from Indonesia in Batam, Indonesia in a bout held in March.

- Bernama