Boxing: Waseem may challenge world champion early next year

KARACHI: Pakistan’s premier boxer Mohammad Waseem may play his major fight early next year as Wales’ hero Andrew Selby defeated Christopher Rosales of Nicaragua in May this year in Cardiff in world title eliminator and is expected to fight for the world title against Japanese knock-out artist and reigning flyweight world champion Daigo Higa in September this year.

“We are not in a rush. Waseem needs tune-up fights. If everything goes well we will challenge the world champion, maybe early next year,” Waseem’s promoter Andy Kim told ‘The News’ on Thursday. “Boxing is really situational and a lot of changes occur. There is nothing hundred percent guaranteed,” he added.

Waseem, the 29-year-old two-time WBC silver flyweight world champion from Quetta, on Thursday reached David, Panama, where he will train and also play a couple of bouts against local fighters on July 5 and July 29.

His Las Vegas-based coach Jeff Mayweather will prepare him for his future battle. Jeff has also moved to David. As Waseem was ranked No1 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) a few days ago, there is every chance that the Pakistani fighter may not play the world title eliminator but directly appear in the world title fight by challenging the champion.

“Not sure but there is much more chance that he would not need title eliminator. The previous No1 fighters did not have to play title eliminator before world title challenge,” said Kim, who heads AK Promotions based in South Korea.

As the 2014 Incheon Asian Games bronze medalist Waseem had to remain out of the ring for seven long months since he defended his world silver crown on November 27, 2016, it’s important for him to get some time to prepare for the fight.

From Panama, Waseem is expected to move to Colombia to prepare further. “May be in Colombia in August,” Kim replied to a query.

Waseem trained hard in Quetta during Ramadan, under the supervision of his WAPDA coach Tariq Siddiqui. His fine shape which he has attained as a result of his hectic work has surprised Kim. “Looking in great shape despite inactivity,” Kim told this correspondent while sharing Waseem’s picture taken before the fighter’s departure for Panama from Quetta on June 27.

Waseem won the WBC world silver flyweight title when he defeated Jether Olivia of the Philippines in July 2016 in Seoul.

He retained the crown by edging Giemel Magramo of the Philippines in November last year, a harder fight.

Waseem, two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, was confident that he would be able to beat his future opponent in the world title bout. “I am really confident that I will become the world champion. After becoming the world champion in flyweight I will change my weight category and will try to seize the world title in that also,” Waseem had told this correspondent early this month.

Waseem is a rare product in the world’s pro boxing circle, having won the world silver title in a record four bouts, an achievement that has amazed the experts of the game.

He has made rapid progress to become World No 1 after switching from amateur to pro in early 2015.