Visa issues continue to disrupt ace Pakistani boxer Waseem's career

Pakistan’s premier professional boxer and three-time World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight world silver champion Muhammad Waseem continues to face visa issue, which has greatly damaged his career.

Waseem, also a former WBC No.1, is desperately waiting for his Schengen visa which will allow him to feature in his WBF bantamweight world title fight against the undefeated Sabelo Cebekhulo of South Africa on October 4 at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Malta.

After having failed to get Schengen visa through Denmark Embassy a few days ago, Waseem now has submitted his documents at the Consulate General of Italy in Karachi. Italy is the last hope for the former Pakistani top amateur fighter to get the much-needed relief which will enable him to focus on his fight against a quality opponent.

This will be after two long years that Waseem, nicknamed Falcon, will be fighting in the professional circuit. He had last played world title fight against Sunny Edwards of England where the Quetta-born lost despite his impressive display, which had enthralled the jam-packed gymnasium located at the Dubai Tennis Centre.

Waseem’s recurring visa issues

On July 22, 2022, Waseem was scheduled to face four-time world champion Donnie Nietes of the Philippines in Dubai but he failed to make an appearance as his UAE visa was delayed. Waseem got the visa but only after the fight was cancelled.

Besides having faced trouble initially in claiming England visa a few years ago, Waseem was also denied Kazakhstan’s visa when he wanted to train there for a fight. He was issued visa but it was cancelled before returning the passport to the fighter.

In 2009, Waseem featured in the World Championship in Milan and he then went to Spain and it shows that he had got Schengen visas previously.

Waseem is extremely saddened by the situation.

“The issue has wasted my crucial time. My event is the key and my promoter is also very upset over the issue,” Waseem told Nukta.

Muhammad Waseem is also a former Asian Games bronze medalist.Facebook/MuhammadWaseem

The former Asian Games bronze medalist also blamed Pakistani passport for the fiasco.

“Pakistani passport has dented my career and I have faced huge damages by missing some big fights,” Waseem said.

“The Dubai fight, which was the IBO world title fight, was missed due to visa issue. I work harder but when time comes I don’t’ get visa. Because of this issue the world’s leading promoters don’t work with me. They say that they make investment in top fighters but they cannot manage their visas as it is the job of their respective governments,” Waseem said.

“The issue is that I am mentally very disturbed and I have not thought about the fight. You can fight only when you are in the camp and you study your rival and make a game plan. Now how I can make a plan as there is visa issue. I also have to manage my own air-ticket. There is no state support. The rule has changed and every fighter has to manage his own ticket,” Waseem said.

In 2020, when Imran Khan was the prime minister Waseem had requested the federal government to issue him diplomatic passport which according to him could resolve his pressing visa issues. However, the then government did not pay heed to the request made by the fighter.

Waseem is heavily taxed

Waseem has disclosed that he is heavily taxed for the prize money which he gets for his fights.

“I have been taxed around 40 percent for the money which I have got for my fights and it makes the things difficult,” he said.

Waseem received 100,000 US dollars for his IBF world title fight which he had lost to England’s Sunny Edwards in Dubai in March 2022. And he earned 50,000 US dollars for the world title fight against South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane which was held in Kuala Lumpur on July 15, 2018. He also used to get around 40,000 US dollars for his WBC fights.