Muhammad Waseem with his World Boxing Association World Gold title belt. PHOTO COURTESY: MUHAMMAD WASEEM
KARACHI:
One of Pakistan’s most successful athletes, boxer Muhammad ‘Falcon’ Waseem will take on Thailand’s Jakrawut Majungoen in his World Boxing Association (WBA) gold world title defence in Lahore.
The two-time World Boxing Council silver champion has an impeccable professional record of 14 wins with 10 knockouts in his 16 professional bouts.
He will be taking on the seasoned Majungoen on November 29.
“It is going to be one of the toughest bouts because Majungoen is a really good boxer, and his record is very impressive,” Waseem told The Express Tribune. “He has more professional bouts under his belt, 49 of them, and he has 28 knockouts, and only lost fights, so I am excited for the challenge.
“I want to do everything in my power in the ring to win, it is about my honour, especially now that we are getting to host this title defence bout in Pakistan.”
The 2010 World Games gold medallist won his WBA gold title in bantamweight, compared to flyweight.
He is more comfortable with his natural weight in the former category, while he has competed in flyweight in most of his professional and amateur bouts.
In May, he pulled off the most impressive feat of hosting the country’s biggest professional boxing event during the time when Pakistan and India were engaged in a war.
Waseem has been connected with the WBA, one of the four recognized professional boxing regulatory bodies in the world, and he hosted the event with several international stars and big names in boxing who visited Quetta.
It was, after all, Waseem’s biggest dream to have his international title bout in his hometown, Quetta.
The success of his last event, in which he knocked out Venezuela’s Wiston Orono in the ninth round to lift the WBA gold bantamweight title, has been recognized and has shifted the perspective of the political and governmental power, too.
Punjab Govt to help Waseem host title defence bout
Waseem believes the help from Chief Minister Balochistan and DHA Quetta was crucial for him when it came to security and venue arrangements for his last bout on May 10.
This time, the Chief Minister of Punjab and the government are welcoming him like never before.
Waseem’s coach, Danny Vaughan, and manager Chris Glover also held a press conference earlier this month where they spoke about Waseem’s chances of retaining his title.
“This time we are moving our event to Lahore, and I am so glad with the support I am receiving from the government, this bout will be bigger and better,” explained the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
But his dream now, after competing in Quetta, is to make Pakistan the hub of boxing in the region.
In the November bout, Waseem is looking to invite boxing greats like Roy Jones Jr, Canelo Alvarez, Muhammad Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh, among others, to help attract the attention of the international and local audience alike.
“My aim now is bigger than myself; it really is to make Pakistan synonymous with boxing.
“I want people abroad to hear the name of our country and think about boxing. I am working with WBA as well to help them establish their regional headquarters in Pakistan. We have so much talent.
“There are so many boxers who can win accolades for Pakistan; we can win world titles after world titles with the kind of talent we have, but we need to provide pathways and opportunities along with facilities to them.
“Here, I am going to be using my platform and everything I have to help hone this talent and make Pakistan a major power in the boxing world.”
Training in Liverpool
Waseem added that this plan to train for the all-important November bout includes training in Liverpool with Vaughan.
“I have started my diet and I am preparing myself for an intense training schedule,” said Waseem. “I will be leaving for Liverpool, UK, mid-September, and I know the 12 weeks from there will be very tough, both mentally and physically.
“When I am in Pakistan, I train on my own, keeping myself in shape and conditioned so when I pick up the training for the bout, I am ready for that intense regimen for the big fight.”