In the limelight: Waseem to fight for WBC Silver title

Pakistan’s lone professional boxer seeks glory in flyweight category


Natasha Raheel May 10, 2016
Muhammad Waseem (L) will have a chance to make history when he fights Jether Oliva for World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver flyweight title on July 17 in Singapore. PHOTO: Facebook

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem will have a chance to make history when the Quetta-based boxer fights against Philippines’ Jether Oliva for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver flyweight title on July 17 in Singapore.

According to Waseem’s promoter Andy Kim, the opportunity to fight for the WBC Silver title is a huge one for the Commonwealth and Asian Games medallist, who has taken up three bouts in his short but impressive professional career and brought his best game to knock out all three of his opponents in the previous fights.

“We’re fortunate to get this opportunity, a WBC title will help Waseem get into the WBC top ranking,” Kim told The Express Tribune.

‘Women’s boxing has taken strong roots’

The WBC flyweight title is currently up for grabs due to a controversy in the last fight for the prize. The title bout between Filipino boxer Randy Petalcorin and Australia-based Tanzanian Omari Kimweri went awry over a biased decision by the judges that declared Kimweri the winner of the bout, ignoring the four knock-downs by Petalcorin.

WBC Chairman Mauricio Sulaiman has also taken notice of Waseem, according to Kim.

“Sulaiman recently visited Korea before this bout and all we talked about was Waseem,” said Kim.

He claimed that securing approval for the Waseem-Oliva fight did not pose many problems as the WBC had announced the title vacant. “We asked WBC and luckily they approved it,” said Kim.

Pakistan’s only professional boxer Waseem to get first title shot in July

The WBC Silver title is equivalent of the World Boxing Association’s interim title.

Earlier, British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan also held the title in the welterweight category.

“It’s a huge opportunity for Waseem as no one can imagine fighting for a title of this stature after only three professional bouts,” said Kim. “We are keeping his training and preparations in check. If Waseem wins, he will be catapulted to the top ranking.”

Waseem will also be training at former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas for the fight.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2016.

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