Financial crisis denies Waseem chance for WBC title fight

KARACHI: As financial crisis has denied Pakistan’s professional boxer Mohammad Waseem the chance to go for world title bout in near future but the WBC No1 flyweight world silver title holder aims to at least defend his world silver title this spring.

“If you don’t get sponsors and so cannot play world title bout then you can get some fights through which you can defend your title and maintain ranking. And in the current situation I want to defend my world silver title in April,” Waseem told a press conference here at the Karachi Press Club.

After defending the WBC world silver flyweight title in November 2016, Waseem had to stay out of boxing for around six months due to financial crisis. However it was because of the federal government’s support in the middle of 2017 that the world No1 fighter from Quetta moved to Panama last year to prepare for his planned world title fight which he was expected to play against Japan’s Daigo Higa in February this year.

Waseem in his Panama’s stay also won three fights against different rivals. His promoter Andy Kim then also wanted to train him further in Colombia but failed to do so due to financial issues.

Waseem said that his agreement with Andy Kim was still intact, adding, he would decide about his future after considering different things.“It is also possible that I may opt for other promoter in future,” Waseem said.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist said that the fund of Rs24million which he had been given by the state was spent on his training in Panama and Korea.“You know millions of rupees are spent on training as professional boxing is too expensive,” the boxer was quick to add.

He was not happy with the way he was treated by the former chief minister of Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri and hoped that the new chief minister would help him.“Zehri did not fulfill his promise but I hope the sitting chief minister will revive my case and will financially support me as it will help me winning world title in future,” the 2014 Incheon Asian Games bronze medallist said. Waseem has played eight pro bouts, winning them all with six knock-outs. He is the only boxer in the world who has achieved the milestone of lifting world silver title in only his fourth bout.

Waseem said that British boxer Amir Khan, who has not played for Pakistan, is being warmly backed while those who are the product of the land are often ignored. He said that Pakistan was brimming with an immense talent and there was a need to properly prepare the stuff by establishing academies.

Waseem created sensation in the pro boxing world when he clinched the WBC world silver title after beating Jether Oliva of the Philippines in Seoul, South Korea, in July 2016. He then went on to defend it after upstaging dangerous Giemel Magramo of the Philippines also in Seoul in November the same year. Responding to a question Waseem said if Floyd Mayweather Junior can lift world title in forty years of age why he cannot do so at this stage as he is only 30. “I will Insha-Allah lift world title,” the boxer said.