KARACHI:
Two-time WBA bantamweight world gold champion and former three-time WBC world silver flyweight champion Mohammad Waseem has been finding it difficult to pursue major boxing opportunities due to persistent visa issues.
“Yes, it’s a big issue,” Waseem told The Express Tribune on Wednesday.
“You know, I submitted my passport to the Spanish Embassy in July, and I am still waiting for a visa,” Waseem said.
“Had I been in any other country, I would have won several world titles. But here, most of my time is wasted running after visas,” the boxer added.
Over the past year, Waseem has won two WBA gold titles, with both bouts held in Pakistan, as Quetta and Lahore hosted the events.
Since turning professional in 2015, Waseem has repeatedly faced difficulties due to visa restrictions. More recently, he missed out on fight offers in Europe because of visa-related problems. In the past, he also missed a world title fight in Dubai due to UAE visa issues. Before that, he encountered difficulties obtaining a visa for a Central Asian country where he intended to undergo training.
Waseem first requested a diplomatic passport from the federal government during the PTI regime. He has also approached the current government several times with the same request, but his appeals have so far gone unanswered.
The Quetta-born boxer, who has trained in Las Vegas, Florida and Mexico, has earned a reputation for his smart boxing and ability to attract crowds. However, he believes he has not received the recognition and support he deserves in Pakistan, considering his achievements as one of the country’s most successful professional fighters.
Waseem’s contribution to Pakistani boxing is not limited to his professional career. He also represented the country in amateur boxing for more than a decade, earning several international accolades.
His achievements include a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Incheon the same year.
Since Waseem won bronze at the Asian Games, no Pakistani boxer has managed to secure another medal in the competition, highlighting the significance of his achievement in the amateur circuit.
“Yes, it’s a fact that I was regarded as a global star when I used to train in Las Vegas and Mexico, as people there love boxing. But things are different here, and I don’t know why a boxer like me does not receive the status I deserve,” Waseem lamented.
“Had the state supported me, even in visa matters, I could have filled Pakistan’s trophy cabinet with major titles, as I received several opportunities that went to waste,” he said.
“I once again request the federal government to assist me with visa issues and issue me a passport that could help me secure visas without unnecessary delays,” he added.
Waseem said he had been told that obtaining a Spanish visa would take four months, describing the delay as a major setback to his career.
The boxer is now aiming to secure a ranking fight in Europe before pursuing another world title opportunity.
His promotion team is working to arrange a world title fight, while Waseem also intends to seek support from Europe-based promoters who could help him secure a ranking bout ahead of his next major international assignment.
“Yes, I am a bit out of touch because I have been running after visas and have not been able to focus on my training. Once I get the visa, I will rush to the UK and then move to Europe to arrange a ranking fight,” Waseem said.
In the UK, Waseem usually trains in Liverpool under Danny Vaughan, who has been associated with him as a coach for a long time. Under Vaughan’s guidance, the boxer has managed to achieve encouraging results on the international circuit.
Waseem has suffered only two defeats in his professional career, both against former world champions: Moruti Mthalane of South Africa and Sunny Edwards of England.
His first defeat came against Mthalane in Kuala Lumpur, while his bout against Edwards took place in Dubai in March 2022.