Pakistani boxer Muhammad Waseem, also called ‘Falcon’ for his swift boxing style, has topped the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) flyweight division list for the first time in four years.
Waseem’s ranking improved after he beat Colombia’s Robert Barrera in Dubai and won the WBA flyweight title eliminator fight. He also won the World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight title in the process for a second time.
Speaking to the media, Waseem said he had trained in tough conditions in Scotland and Dubai to prepare for the fight against Barrera. His last professional fight was against Jeny Boy Boca from the Philippines in 2020.
“Before the showdown, I was ranked fourth in the flyweight division category and Alhamdulliah (praise be to Allah), I have now moved to the top spot,” said the elated athlete.
Saying that he was the first Pakistani to have won the WBA flyweight title eliminator fight, he dubbed his win a “big thing”.
“No other Pakistani has ever achieved this before,” he said, adding that before claiming the two titles in Dubai, he had won just one other title. “But now, I hold two titles at the same time.”
Waseem had earlier topped the WBA’s flyweight division list in 2017 after winning the WBC silver flyweight title. According to the WBA’s website, the 34-year-old now has a record of 12 wins, one loss and eight knockouts.