Waseem faces Trejos tomorrow

KARACHI: World Boxing Council (WBC) two-time world silver flyweight champion Mohammad Waseem will face Ivan Trejos of Panama in a friendly fight in Panama on Saturday (tomorrow).

This will be the second fight for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games bronze medallist this month. He knocked out Panama’s Eliecer Valdez just a few days after he reached Panama for starting his preparation for the world title bout which is yet to be finalised.

“Trejos is high-ranked among local fighters in his weight category. He has also beaten some top fighters,” Waseem’s promoter Andy Kim told ‘The News’ from Korea on Thursday. “This will be Waseem’s second fight in less than a month as he closes in on a world title fight,” he said.

Kim said he would need Pakistan government’s support in his effort to arrange Waseem’s world title fight in South Korea. “Waseem’s native Pakistan supported the fighter so he was able to train and fight in Panama. I hope Pakistan will again financially support Waseem so that his fast approaching historic world title fight could be arranged in Korea,” Kim said.

“I am hopeful that the Pakistan government will once again financially support Waseem so that Waseem does not have to challenge as visitor,” Kim stressed.

When asked how much money he would need, Kim said: “More than the last time.”Last time Pakistan government had given Waseem and Kim a handsome purse of Rs 24 million.

Waseem, who had a bright career as amateur, shot to fame as pro when he won world silver title by beating Jether Oliva of the Philippines on July 17, 2016, in Korea. He went on to defend his crown on November 27 last year, also in Korea, after downing dangerous fighter Giemel Magramo of the Philippines.

Jeff Mayweather, uncle of world’s boxing great Floyd Mayweather Junior, is coaching Waseem in Panama. Jeff is satisfied with Waseem’s preparation. “It’s going great,” Jeff said.

After this fight he may move to Columbia for further training. Waseem is expected to face the flyweight world champion early next year.

Japan’s Diago Higa, current flyweight world champion, is expected to meet Welsh Andrew Selby who defeated Christopher Rosales of Nicaragua in the world title eliminator in Cardiff recently.