Waseem KOs Valdez in warm-up bout

Pakistan boxer took two minutes and 24 seconds to down the Panamanian pugilist

KARACHI: Pakistani boxer Muhammad Waseem registered his fourth knockout of his pro career against Panama's Eliecer Valdez in Panama City, in his first fight after winning the title World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight title in November.

Waseem walked into the ring after a gap of six months and the Quetta-based pugilist took no time to establish his dominance, knocking out Valdez in the second round within two minutes and 24 seconds.

This was a warm-up fight for Waseem, who is likely to challenge for the World Championship title later this year.

"I hope I made Pakistan proud again,” Waseem told The Express Tribune. “For me it is a relief that I'm fighting again. I was itching to get back in the ring.”

The 29-year-old has been going through some uncertain times in his career as he had no sponsors or money left to continue his pro career after the fight against Philippines' Geimel Magramo last November. However, the Pakistan government provided him with a grant and that spelled hope for Waseem.

He became the first Pakistani to win a WBC title last year in July in a bout against Jether Oliva.

"It had been long six months really, but winning the bout this way makes me more confident in my abilities as a boxer,” he said. “I really worked hard in the last few months, even in Ramazan I kept training with my coach Muhammad Tariq in Quetta and I feel that paid off. Jeff Mayweather was also a great help."

The 2014 Commonwealth silver-medallist added that he is now more determined for the next fight on July 29.

"I had to prove myself before, but I don't think I'm ever nervous,” he revealed. “I wasn't nervous before this fight against Valdez, and I’m not feeling any pressure for the next fight either. Although no fight is easy, you have to take the punches, but Valdez was easy. The next fighter will be more challenging, I think. But the bigger goal is to go for the WBC World title this year, and I'm preparing for it."

Waseem has an impeccable record so far; he has fought six bouts and won four through knockouts which has helped him push to the top position in the WBC ratings.

Waseem will be training in Panama for his next bout and hopes to have good sparring sessions.

"I haven't started training here yet. I hope there are good boxers here," said Waseem, while he was amazed that the crowd at the bout cheered for him just on the merit of his game.

"They were cheering for me; I think they liked my game, which was good. People here have no clue what Pakistan is, I haven't even seen a single Pakistani here, but they appreciate the sport," he said.

According to his promoter, Andy Kim, Waseem surprised him with the form.

"It’s a great thing to see him win,” he said. “I knew it would be an easy fight for him, because he was extremely sharp in this fight for a boxer who hadn't stepped in the ring for six months. I'm waiting for WBC to correspond on the World title bout now.”

Waseem's opponent for the July 29 bout will be announced later.