Waseem returns to ring on March 6

KARACHI: Pakistan's premier professional boxer Mohammad Waseem will return to ring on March 6 in Dubai, his trainer Danny Vaughan said on Sunday.

“Yes Waseem is set to return to ring on March 6, a fight in connection with the Rotunda Rumble-III,” Danny told The News from England.

However he was quick to add that his opponent was yet to decide.“There are three different opponents and his rival for the March 6 bout will be announced this week,” Danny said. He made it clear that it would be an eight-round fight at the Caesars Palace Dubai.

This would be after almost three and a half month time that the former two-time flyweight world silver champion will play a bout since he last defeated highly experienced Ganigan Lopez of Mexico in Dubai on November 22, 2019.

Besides beating Lopez Waseem last year also knocked-out Conrado Tenamor of the Philippines on September 13 also in Dubai.Meanwhile Waseem is still in Pakistan, waiting for a Spanish visa.

“Yes I am still waiting for my Spain visa. Tomorrow I would try to visit the embassy to see what has happened,” Waseem told 'The News' from Islamabad on Sunday.

However he was quick to add that the time was too short for his next fight.

“Its too short a time as my fight has been announced and I am still struggling to get my Spain visa,” the former Asian Games bronze medallist said.

The basic purpose of Waseem seeking Spain visa is that he plans to visit Spain for some sparring ahead of his March 6 fight. “Yes this is the main purpose,” Waseem said.

However he was not happy with the so far delay in visa, adding, he had hardly 45 days in his next fight and he would request the embassy for quick endorsement of his visa.

Waseem trains under MTK Global, one of major boxers management bodies of the world. When asked in case of further delay in visa what he would do regarding his training, the fighter said: “I am running only to keep myself fit.” Waseem stays in Islamabad because of extremely cold weather at his hometown in Quetta.

“Yes there the situation is not in control. Its too cold. In Islamabad too there is immense cold and its not easy to train in such conditions,” Waseem said. Waseem, who holds IBF World No5 ranking, aims to win world title.

“That is my goal,” Waseem said. “I don't know exactly more details of my March 6 fight in Dubai. It will be a ranking fight or anything else. It will be known soon,” the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medallist said.

The 32-year old has so far played 11 bouts, winning ten while losing only one when he went down to South Africa's Moruti Mthalane in the IBF world title fight in Kuala Lumpur in summer of 2018.

After serving Pakistan for a decade in amateur circuit Waseem turned pro in early 2015 and shot to fame in professional circuit when he defeated Jether Oliva of the Philippines in Korea to lift the WBC flyweight world silver title in July 2016. After three months Waseem defended his title when he edged past Giemel Magramo of Philippines. Waseem remained a rare fighter of the world to have secured the WBC silver world crown in only his fourth fight. He also remained world No1 for quite sometime.