Kashif Abdul Razzaq
Karachi
Renowned Pakistani boxer Muhammad Waseem’s highly anticipated International Boxing Organization (IBO) Bantamweight world title fight against Philippines’s Donnie Nietes has been postponed due to a visa complication.
According to information receives here on Friday, the boxer’s team reportedly made an error in the application process, leading to the denial of his visa by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As a result, Waseem was unable to travel to Dubai in time for the scheduled bout on July 22.
Waseem, who is currently in Scotland, expressed his disappointment in a video message, saying, “Unfortunately, my fight was scheduled today, but due to a visa issue, I could not participate. I worked really hard in the camp for this fight. My aim was to win the title for Pakistan. I would like to thank my promotions for this opportunity. I am hopeful that this fight will be rescheduled soon.”
To rectify the situation, Waseem took matters into his own hands and applied for the visa himself. However, it is expected to be processed after a month-long gap, leading to the indefinite postponement of his title fight against Nietes.
Muhammad Waseem, also known as Falcon Waseem, has been making waves in the world of boxing, and earlier this year, he was honored as the Sportsman of the Year at the Pakistan Sports Awards (PSA) 2022. The prestigious awards ceremony also recognized other prominent athletes, including Pakistan’s ESports sensation Arslan Ash and female Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Anita Karim. Sprint legend Abdul Khaliq was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award for his outstanding contributions to sports, having won numerous gold and silver medals in national and international games.
The PSA event saw a total of 85 nominees vying for 17 categories, with 24-carat gold trophies being presented to the winners. Prominent stars and personalities of Pakistan, such as Aleem Dar, Aisam Ul Haq, Mahoor Shahzad, Wahab Riaz, Azhar Ali, Kulsoom Hazara, Nargis Hazara, and Imam Ul Haq, were in attendance. The ceremony was hosted by renowned show anchor Fahad Mustafa, with Zainab Abbas and Ahsan Khan as co-hosts.