Bout of his life: Waseem’s weigh in for WBC title

Pakistan’s only professional boxer to fight Philippines’ Jether Oliva this month.


Natasha Raheel July 13, 2016
PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Pakistan’s only professional boxer Muhammad Waseem wrapped up his sparring sessions on Monday, as he took on Moon Sun Jung at the training for his upcoming World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver flyweight title bout that will take place on July 17 in Seoul against Philippines’ Jether Oliva.

According to Waseem’s manager Andy Kim, the 28-year-old is in his best shape for the most important bout of his life and winning the title will change his career. “He is in great form, and Korean boxers aren’t on his level,” Kim told The Express Tribune. “He sparred against amateur national Korean boxers here but he dominated them, so we are looking at a good fight [against Jether Oliva]. It will be a big feat for him to win the WBC title as he will get his name among the top boxers in the circuit.”

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His opponent Oliva will be in Seoul three days prior to the fight. The 30-year-old Oliva is ranked 57th in the world and has played 31 bouts in his career but Waseem can be dubbed the favourite, having won all three of his professional bouts via knockouts.

Previously, Waseem had also trained with Floyd Mayweather’s uncle and former boxer Jeff Mayweather in Las Vegas for more than a month.

Raising the stakes

According to Kim, the fight may end up reviving high calibre boxing bouts in Korea, as the country has not seen any big title fights in more than a decade.

“We’ve kept it on a Sunday afternoon and that is a good time, hopefully there will be more to it as Waseem’s fan-following is increasing in Korea. If he wins this bout, he will be a hero,” said Andy. “The Koreans are mostly supporting Waseem and we haven’t had a major WBC fight here in 12 or 13 years. Most people have forgotten that kind of boxing culture here.”

The fight was originally chalked for Singapore; however, the venue was changed last month. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2016.

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