Sports

Waseem downs Indonesian boxer Bajawa

Pugilist remains unbeaten in professional circuit; bags third successive knockout win.

Natasha Raheel March 20, 2016

Waseem defeated Indonesian Bajawa in a ranking fight to remain undefeated in the professional circuit. PHOTO COURTESY: ANDY KIM

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Mohammad Waseem delivered the third successive knockout, from as many bouts, of his professional career as he defeated Indonesia’s John Bajawa in a ranking fight at the Myoung Boxing World in Seoul on Saturday.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games silver-medallist is the only boxer from Pakistan in the international professional circuit at the moment and expressed his delight at defeating his Indonesian counterpart.

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“I’m just excited; the fight wasn’t as difficult as I had expected,” Waseem told The Express Tribune. “Bajawa is an experienced boxer and he was good, but just not as difficult to beat as I thought. He was coming in with an experience of 23 bouts.”

The Quetta-based pugilist further added that his strategy of taking it slow allowed him to win the bout.

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“I brought my top game in the fourth round. I took it slow; I wanted to see what Bajawa has got. And then, it was easy. I like to start slow and save the best for later. He just couldn’t survive my body shots,” he added.

Waseem, frustrated by the Pakistan Boxing Federation’s apathy towards the sport, had opted to switch from amateur to professional in October last year and the 28-year-old is happy with his decision.

“I’m just happy to be getting the opportunities to fight in the professional circuit. So far I’ve proved my worth. I’m just focusing on my training and thinking about one bout at a time. I need to fight for a world championship fight this year.”

Waseem further added that he had trained with undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas, with the stint helping him improve his technique.

“I would see Mayweather train every day. He also told me that I can do it and that I can make my mark,” said Waseem. “They also told me that I was the best boxer at the club and offered me to come to them, but I chose to stay with Andy. Floyd’s uncle Jeff Mayweather trained me and this win proves that I’ve came back a better boxer.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2016.

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