QUETTA: Quetta’s Muhammad Waseem is set to face Oscar Cantu in a World title eliminator bout.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered the fight between the two, with the winner progressing to a World title fight at the end of the year.
Both teams have time till the end of this month to agree venues and dates.
Waseem insists the bout will be tough, but he stated, “I look to continue to make Pakistan proud. I really hope that those who said they would support me will now step up as I enter the biggest fight of my career.”
The boxer from Pakistan won the vacant WBC silver title in July 2016 after defeating Jether Olivia from the Phillipines. Being in possession of the belt, puts the fighter in prime position to fight the biggest names in the flyweight division.
Promoter and manager of Pakistani born Waseem, Andy Kim spoke regarding potential venues for the clash: “We of course want the fight to take place in my native South Korea,” he stressed.
Team Cantu have other ideas. They’d like the fight to be staged in Texas, where Cantu resides.
“If we don’t receive the promised money from Pakistan, the fight will most likely end up in Texas, which is not an ideal situation for Waseem. Without that support, there is not much I can do” he added.
The WBC silver flyweight champion in December 2016 was promised a Rs 30 million grant from the Pakistani government, however, Andy Kim stated, “It is February now and still no money has been given. It is all just pledges, without any substance.”