(Abdul Ghaffar | Dawn)
The unbeaten World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Silver Flyweight Champion, Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem, expressed disappointment again over the lack of funds and support, and said he was thinking of accepting offers from other countries and play for them.
The country’s ace boxer announced his decision through a video message on Monday, saying he had no sponsors to fund his participation in the international boxing events and represent Pakistan — therefore he was thinking of switching sides.
Waseem, who hails from Quetta, told his fans that his upcoming fight for the WBC title might be the last time he represents Pakistan.
“I have an upcoming fight for the world title [in January 2018] and before that I have a fight in Colombia, but I am facing problems as I have no sponsors,” Waseem said in the video.
“I don’t want to stop representing Pakistan but unfortunately I am stuck,” the boxer added.
He said that after his upcoming fights, he may consider taking the nationality of the United States or South Korea — and represent them instead.
He has repeatedly expressed disappointment that the government has not offered him any support despite his achievements.
Waseem, also known as Falcon Khan, said that when he won his first WBC title for Pakistan, the federal government and the Balochistan government had “promised to help him and commit to other financial help”.
He added he feels “extremely disappointed that no one from both governments fulfilled their promise and did not even bother to call him”.
Waseem said that in order to move forward as a professional boxer he needed sponsorship.
In July, Waseem won the World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight title after defeating favourite Jether Oliva from the Philippines.
He maintained his title in October when he defeated Panama’s Carlos Melo.
Waseem, Pakistan’s only professional boxer, began his professional career in South Korea last year and won the Korean Bantamweight title on debut.
