Boxer Waseem to train in England

KARACHI: Pakistan’s professional boxer Mohammad Waseem will leave for Birmingham in the next few days to train for his International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title bout against Moruti Mthalane of South Africa.

“All training arrangements have been made. I will apply for England visa on Monday. I am confident that I will be able to leave for Birmingham in the first week of Ramazan,” Waseem told ‘The News’ from Islamabad.

The IBF world flyweight title fight will be held on July 15 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. The title was left vacant by Filipino boxer Donnie Nietes, who now fights in the super flyweight category.

The Waseem-Mthalane fight was previously set as an elimination bout but after Nietes vacated the belt the fight was elevated to a title bout.

Waseem is undergoing training in Islamabad. “I have achieved 100 percent fitness,” he said. “I am working hard. I train for eight hours a day. I am very excited for the coming fight. I hope I will live up to the billing.”

To a question Waseem said around two and a half months were enough for him to train solidly.

“It’s enough time. It would be great training in England and that will benefit me a lot ahead of the fight.” This would be the first time that Waseem will be training in England in his professional career.