Boxer Waseem dedicates world title win to Pakistan's armed forces

The country's premier professional boxer and now the WBA bantamweight champion Mohammad Waseem added another feather to his cap late Saturday night with a knock-out victory over Wiston Orono of Venezuela in Quetta to assert himself as the greatest fighter the country has ever produced.

"It was indeed a tough fight as I lost the first two rounds but solid strategy worked for me in superb fashion," Waseem told Nukta in an exclusive interview.

"I knew the strength of Wiston. He turned very tired by sixth round and you know my real fight starts after four rounds. I told my trainer Danny in the eighth round that as Wiston was tired I should go for a body shot to knock out him and I did that successfully in the ninth round to win the fight.

"It was a dream come true as I waited a lot for this day and I am thankful to God Almighty.

"I am thankful to DHA Quetta, Balochistan government and Balochistan military and Corps Commander who had a big hand to make this event possible. I am also thankful to my coach Danny, promotion, managers, foreign fighters and boxing dignitaries who came here and made this event a big success.”

Quetta Corps Commander and the Balochistan government did a fantastic job to ensure a big international event, featuring dozens of foreign fighters from across the world, was conducted successfully at a time when both Pakistan and India were involved in a war.

Meanwhile, Waseem eyes some more major international titles in the near future.

"I will fight once for its defense and then will try for a unification fight. We will plan accordingly and time will decide the journey ahead," Waseem said.

Dedicates win to Pakistan's armed forces

He also dedicated his fantastic win to the Pakistan's armed forces who defended the country smartly against India's aggression.

"Yes, I dedicate it to the armed forces for the bravery they showed in defending the homeland from India's aggression," Waseem said.

Waseem's immediate family, his wife and little son, missed the live action due to flight issue but now they are in Quetta to join celebrations of Waseem's finest victory.

After receiving the belt there was a fan-buzz as spectators gathered around Waseem for selfies, a moment which the former Asian Games bronze medalist will never forget.

Waseem prepared in Liverpool for this vital fight for eight weeks during which he passed through 65 to 70 sparring sessions.

Waseem played his previous fight against Georgian fighter Jaba Memishishi six months ago in Malta.

This was after long two years that Waseem played a fight since facing Sunny Edwards of England in 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 Waseem eventually got the job done at his hometown which created history as this was the first time that such a loaded and major international boxing event was conducted which featured eight international and two local fights.

The victory also catapulted Waseem's fight-tally to 16 in his professional career so far, spanning over a period of nine years, having won 14 of them with ten knockouts.

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

Waseem made his fine pro 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 again in November 2021 by defeating Rober Barerra of Colombia in Dubai.

Waseem also has served for over a decade for Pakistan in the amateur circuit during which he won several international medals for the country. Just before switching over to professional circuit way back in 2015, Waseem won silver in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and a few months later the same year he clinched bronze in the Incheon Asian Games. Since then, no Pakistani boxer has won any medal in the Asian Games.