Waseem opens up about controversial fight with Edwards, world title bout in Quetta

Pakistan’s premier professional boxer Mohammad Waseem has made a huge revelation about what happened on the night of his IBF flyweight world title bout against England’s Sunny Edwards in March 2022 at the Dubai Tennis Centre in the UAE.

While speaking exclusively to Nukta, Waseem revealed that on his fight night against Sunny Edwards someone sent an Instagram message to him that the decision was made by Eddie Hearn, who is the world’s biggest promoter, who also runs DAZN.

“I understood that thing at that time when Sunny after fight told Eddie that ‘I need you now, you are the best promoter in the world’. The man who had sent an Instagram message to me had also told me that I had to knock him out. So it happens in boxing,” Waseem said.

“He disrespected my trainer. Heated words were exchanged also at the airport between our group and that of Sunny but my promoter intervened,” Waseem added.

Waseem said that the English fighter remained on the backfoot mostly in that fight.

“In the US if you remain on the backfoot they will not give you fight. Sunny Edwards was favored by referee as he deducted my two points and had he not done that the fight would have finished with a draw or I would have won,” he said.

Waseem, who recently signed with Manny Pacquiao Promotions also revealed his plans about bringing a world title fight to Pakistan.

“We have a good plan and will go for major fights as it is the end of my career. I have to go for specific fights,” he said.

“Under Manny Pacquiao, I will play big fights. I have been in communication with my promotion relating to our future plans. I am also thankful to DHA Quetta as it has told us to hold an international event in Quetta and they will back us. We are in talks with them and we want to bring world title bout to Pakistan,” he said.

“Most probably it will be held in Quetta as I belong to Quetta and we want to hold international event in front of the big crowd. Efforts will be made to bring in boxers from across the world. It will be a big message for the youngsters,” said Waseem, also a former three-time WBC world silver flyweight champion.

World title bout

Waseem also plans to play one more ranking fight before his world title shot.

“I plan to play one more ranking fight before going for world title shot. You know recently I reached Malta after facing big visa issues. I was sound and played a good fight after returning to international circuit after two and a half years. You know even world’s great boxers lose heart when they face such a barren patch and comeback is not easy,” said the former WBC No1.

“I handled visa issues and training at the same time. I went to Malta and did well by beating Georgian fighter [Jaba Memishishi],” he was quick to add.

Waseem was also disappointed over the fact that he didn’t get a chance to win an Olympic medal for Pakistan.

“I did not feature in the Olympics due to federation’s issues as we did not get training facilities and an opportunity which could help us qualify for the Olympics. I could even win medal in Olympics had I been supported in my training. If you can win medals in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games so you can also win medal in Olympics,” Waseem said.

He said that he can still step in the ring for a few more years.

“It depends on your body and fitness how much you can play. Thank God, day by day training is improving and the day your body stops responding then you should understand that there is no more boxing left in you,” he said.

Waseem also said that boxers are in their prime in 35 and 36.

“Age does not matter, it is your fitness which counts a lot and if you keep training and remain disciplined no one will beat you,” he said.

Asked about the difference in amateur and professional boxing, Waseem said that Pakistani trainers don’t know much about modern-day training.

“I don’t want to discourage them as they are good trainers but, actually, they don’t know how to make a boxer fitter and what diet he needs. In professional we knew how to train and what type of diet you need. MTK Global used to spend a lot on me. My nutritionist Steven Floyd, who is from Belfast and one of the best nutritionists, used to advice good diet. We used to wear sweat suit for training and we did not eat before running,” he said.

Waseem also showed his disappointment over lack of assistance from the former Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) under its president Doda Bhutto and secretary Mohammad Akram Khan.