Boxing: Waseem a step closer to London

Pakistan boxer wins his first qualifying fight.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Mohammad Waseem put all the pre-tournament controversy behind him and passed the first hurdle in the World Boxing Championship, beating  his Mauritian counterpart in Baku.

According to details, the fly-weight pugilist (52-kilogramme) opened his campaign in the tournament that doubles as the Olympics qualifiers by beating Gilbert Bactora on a day when another Pakistan boxer was outclassed.

Waseem, with the weight drama and the federation’s wrath behind him, dominated the battle throughout and the bout was stopped in the third round, awarding a technical knock-out to the Pakistani.

The Quetta-based boxer showed no signs of nervousness and, with a combination of punches, secured three points with a perfect defence aiding his progress. Waseem will now meet a Mexican boxer for a place in the pre-quarter-finals with a win ensuring a ticket to London.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Hussain fell at the first hurdle after his opponent Aboubakr proved too good for him in the 56kg preliminary round. Hussain, with little international experience, looked a total mismatch as Aboubakr snatched points at will to win the bout 19-8.

Pakistan will be in action tomorrow when Amir Khan takes on Iran’s Mehdi Toloutibandpi, seeking a place in the advanced stages of 64kg category. The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Secretary Akram Khan praised Waseem for his show in the first match.

“It has been a contrasting start for us,” Khan told The Express Tribune from Baku. “Waseem has lifted our hopes with a good performance.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th,  2011.