Waseem wins WBC silver flyweight title

KARACHI: Mohammad Waseem on Sunday achieved a major breakthrough in his pro career when he became the first Pakistani boxer to clinch the World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight title as he beat the experienced Jether Rodrigo Oliva of the Philippines at the Millennium Seoul Hilton, Seoul.

The 28-year-old Quetta-born pugilist kept his nerves right from the first round till the final 12th round, which helped him emerge as the winner on the basis of points.

The mercurial former Asian Games bronze medallist demonstrated fine skills during the marathon fight. He remained meticulous both in attack and defence.

In the fourth, sixth and 12th rounds, he unsettled his rival Oliva, who has never tasted a knock-out defeat in his entire career.

“It was a fine fight,” Waseem told ‘The News’. “I did try to knock Oliva out but when I saw that he was resisting I treated him differently and at the end the result was in my favour,” said Waseem, fondly called Falcon.

The triumph will help Waseem make a place in the top four of the WBC world rankings.

The fight initially was graded as WBC Asia Continental Flyweight title but was upgraded into the world silver title fight. Initially, it was planned to be held in Singapore but was shifted to Seoul.

The vacant silver title was last held by Omari Kimweri of Tanzania, who vacated it after claiming it with a controversial win against the Filipino pro Randy Petalcorin. Before this fight, the 30-year-old Oliva, who made his pro debut in February 2007, had played 32 bouts and of them won 24 and lost six.

Waseem’s promoter Andy Kim was happy with the boxer’s success. “Waseem boxed perfectly today,” Andy told this correspondent.

For the fight against Oliva, Waseem underwent rigorous training in Las Vegas at the gymnasium of former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Junior.

Mayweather’s uncle Jeff Mayweather trained him in the US and he was confident of his student’s win before this fight.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri congratulated Waseem for his superb performance.

“Waseem made both Pakistan and Balochistan proud,” Zehri told media on Sunday.

Balochistan’s government announced Rs500,000 for the boxer, who had performed creditably in his amateur career.

As an amateur, Waseem won a dozen of major international medals. He won around Rs10 million during his amateur career.

Pakistan’s experienced coach Ali Bakhsh said he was delighted by Waseem’s success. “He is going well. The way he is training and progressing I hope he will become the world champion one day,” said Ali, a former Asian gold medallist.

Pakistan Boxing Federation’s (PBF) secretary Iqbal Hussain said Waseem had done them proud. “He is our asset. He has made us proud. If he has won the world silver title today he can become the world champion tomorrow,” Iqbal said.

“We will host a reception for him,” he said.

Waseem switched to pro boxing in early 2015 when he signed a contract with the Korea-based AK Promotions, headed by Andy Kim.

The experienced boxer made a dream debut when he knocked out Korea’s Min Wook Lee in the ninth round to win the Korean Boxing Commission’s (KBC) crown on October 4, 2015.

He then knocked out Suparyanto Doglo of Indonesia in the third round in his second bout in Bangkok on December 5, 2015.

He knocked out Indonesia’s John Bajawa in Seoul on March 19, 2016.

A picture of the prize distribution ceremony showed WAPDA’s coach Tariq Siddiqui standing by Waseem. It was Tariq who mostly coached Waseem during his amateur career both at WAPDA and Pakistan’s camp.