KARACHI: Pakistan’s WBA Gold World Bantamweight champion Muhammad Waseem says he is fully focused and giving his best as he prepares for the mega fight scheduled on November 29, where he will defend his title against Thailand’s Jakrawut Majungoen.
Waseem has been training in Liverpool under coach Danny Vaughan, and this time he is finally getting the chance to defend his world title on home soil — a dream he has long waited for.
Earlier in May, the 38-year-old hosted a major fight in Quetta with support from the Pakistan Army and Balochistan Government. That event marked the first-ever professional bout in Pakistan backed by one of the world’s top four boxing bodies, attracting foreign fighters and officials.
The upcoming card on November 29 will feature over seven fights, with 38 international boxers and six Pakistani fighters competing at Lahore’s Garrison Club.
Waseem, famously known as Falcon, has been actively collaborating with the WBA to promote professional boxing in Pakistan. This time he is bringing fighters from the UK, USA, Mexico, Germany, and France, according to Punjab Sports Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar, who recently visited the venue to inspect arrangements for the ‘Fight for Glory’ event.
The provincial minister has also ensured strict security measures, especially since hosting such a large number of foreign fighters is a first for Pakistan.
Waseem will be facing Jakrawut, a southpaw, and has tailored his training accordingly.
“I’m pushing myself extremely hard because this fight means a lot,” Waseem said from Liverpool, where he trains five hours daily.
“Our strategy for Jakrawut is different from the previous fight. Most of the focus is on improving combinations. Since he’s a southpaw, I’ve adjusted my training to match his stance.”
Waseem previously fought Sunny Edwards for the IBF flyweight world title in 2021, a bout he lost. However, he bounced back strongly to claim the WBA Gold World title in May this year.
His professional career remains impressive — 14 wins from 16 fights, including 10 knockouts. He also earned major success as an amateur boxer representing Pakistan.
“Strength training, maintaining weight, and polishing technique take up most of the energy,” he shared. “Sometimes it becomes exhausting because I travel almost two hours to Manchester just for sparring.”
He praised the UK boxing community, saying his sparring partners — including English, one Indian, and other professional boxers — have supported him purely out of goodwill.
“I travel almost 40 miles from Liverpool just for sparring sessions. It’s tiring, especially being away from my two children and family, but I believe this event can change the future of boxing in Pakistan.”
Waseem, who previously won and defended the WBC Silver Flyweight title in 2016, is also bringing American rapper Mr. Capone-E to perform at the event. His main objective is to give Pakistani fans a taste of high-level professional boxing and create opportunities for local fighters.
“My heart breaks when I see how many young fighters in Quetta and across Pakistan are overlooked,” he said. “I want to give them exposure, and help professional boxing grow here. We are also ensuring that women boxers get their rightful place in the event.”
He thanked the Government of Punjab and the Pakistan Army for supporting the initiative, saying such a large-scale event would not be possible without them.
