Pakistan's ace boxer Waseem undergoing hectic training ahead of WBA world title fight

Pakistan’s premier professional boxer and former three-time World Boxing Council (WBC) world silver flyweight champion Mohammad Waseem is undergoing hectic training in Liverpool to prepare for his world title shot.

“Yes, I have been working hard here in Liverpool for the last 25 days,” Waseem told Nukta.

“It’s mixed training containing various activities and I am fully focused. Sparring has also started and my partners are good which is why I hope that things go well,” Waseem added.

Waseem is being trained by his trainer Danny Vaughn as usual.

Asked whether he will continue to train in England until the fight, the former Asian Games bronze medalist replied in affirmative.

“Yes, I will do entire training here. It’s a good place and weather also is fine. I feel well here,” said Waseem, who has represented Pakistan in amateur boxing for over a decade.

His WBA world title fight, which will be in the bantamweight category, will be against Wiston Orono of Venezuela on May 10 in Quetta.

According to sources the fight has almost been finalized. This would be the first time that such a huge fight will be held on Pakistan’s soil.

Sources said that ten major fights would be held on the day. A galaxy of boxing greats from abroad are also expected to witness Waseem’s fight.

Waseem played his last fight against Georgian fighter Jaba Memishishi six months ago in Malta. This was after two long years that Waseem featured in a fight since facing Sunny Edwards of England for the world title shot in Dubai in March 2022.

Waseem had to wait for long for his maiden world title due to visas and other issues which also impeded his growth as a professional fighter.

Having lost to Sunny Edwards and Moruti Mthalane of South Africa in his previous world title shots held in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, respectively, despite playing so well, this is a huge opportunity for the Quetta boxer to win the first-ever world title for Pakistan.

A renowned Irish nutritionist, Steven Floyd, is also working with Waseem in Liverpool and his nutrition-related tests were also conducted in the John Moores University in Liverpool the other day.

Waseem has played 15 fights in his professional career so far, spanning over a period of nine years, having won 13 of them with nine knockouts.

He has also remained WBC No1 boxer for quite some time when he was working under Korea-based AK Promotions.

Waseem made his professional debut in October 2015 following a long and productive amateur career when he defeated Min Wook Lee in Incheon. He went on to excel and in his fourth fight in July the same year he lifted the WBC world silver flyweight title by beating Jether Oliva of the Philippines in Seoul.

He then defended it in November the same year by upstaging tough Filipino fighter Giemel Magramo in Seoul.

Waseem reclaimed it for the third time in November 2021 by defeating Rober Barerra of Colombia in Dubai.