Promoter Andy Kim has set a goal for Waseem to become a world champion in less than 10 professional fights. PHOTO COURTESY: MUHAMMAD WASEEM
KARACHI: Pakistan’s sole professional boxer Muhammad Waseem is set to take on India’s Sandeep Singh in the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) ranking fight in April.
Andy Kim, Waseem’s Korean promoter, confirmed that the contract papers for a fight between the Indian former amateur boxer Singh and Waseem have been signed, and the bout will take place on April 16 at York Hall in London.
Kim, who switched to boxing as a promoter a year ago after working in the music business and manages four other boxers — including a Kazakhstani — feels that Waseem has a good chance of winning the fight that would help the Quetta-based pugilist to improve on his OPBF rankings.
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“Waseem’s transformation from an amateur boxer to a professional one is just amazing,” Kim told The Express Tribune. “We want him to go and train in the UK a month before the fight, while I would join him a week prior to it. It’s going to be a good fight.”
Kim added that the goal is to get Waseem a world championship title in less than 10 fights.
So far, since his debut in October, Waseem has won the South Korean boxing title, defeating bantamweight boxer Min Wok Lee and Indonesia’s Suparyanto Doglo, knocking out both of his opponents to get off to an impressive start.
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“The Korean boxers wouldn’t fight Waseem; he is that good,” said Kim. “He is picking up professional boxing wonderfully. Earlier, he would use more footwork and less head combinations, but now he is learning fast.
“He is training with a Korean-Japanese coach, an extremely respected one in Japan as well. It’s a new start for Waseem and for the coach too, as he never trained foreign boxers before, but produced amazing talent in Japan.”
Kim said that of the four boxers he manages, Waseem has been most impressive in form so far.
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“Korea has had champions in the past, but that’s not the case anymore,” he said. “Boxing here is deteriorating fast, so I have turned to foreign boxers. I’m lucky to have found pugilists like Waseem.”
The 37-year-old revealed that Waseem has won over a number of Korean fans.
Regarding the upcoming bout, Kim believed Waseem would have the upper hand since he has fought more professional bouts than Sandeep.
“This is an untitled fight, but winning it will mean Waseem can break into the top 15 OPBF boxers. I want Waseem to become a world champion, but I don’t want to rush him either.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2016.
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