SEOUL - M Waseem Khan became Pakistan’s first boxer to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight title as he defeated Philippines’ Jether Oliva at the Hilton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea on Sunday.

The fight was stretched to 12 rounds and Waseem was declared as winner by all the judges unanimously. As a result, the Pakistani boxer jumped to number four in his respective weight category International Professional Boxing Ranking.

President Mamnoon Hussain, Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and other leaders congratulated the boxer over his win. Balochistan Sports Minister Mir Mujeebur Rehman announced a prize of Rs0.5 million for Waseem after his brilliant victory. Initially, it was an ordinary fight but the WBC last month turned it into a world silver title fight. The victory catapults the 28-year-old Pakistani boxer among the top four in the world.

Waseem, who hails from Quetta, prepared for the fight under famous trainer Jeff Mayweather at the boxing club of renowned boxer Floyd Mayweather Junior in Las Vegas. Jeff is the uncle of Floyd Mayweather Junior, one of the world’s greatest boxers of his time. Waseem comes across as one of the most capable and promising young boxers that Pakistan has produced in recent times.

Before this match, Waseem had played only three fights and won them all. The Pakistani boxer, who switched over to pro boxing early last year, made a dream debut when he knocked out Korea’s Min Wook Lee in the ninth round to win the Korean Boxing Commission (KBC) title on October 4, 2015. He knocked out Suparyanto Doglo of Indonesia in the third round in his second bout in Bangkok on December 5, 2015. His last triumph came against Indonesia’s Bajawa whom he knocked out in Seoul the other month.

Waseem is a rare fighter as he began his pro career directly with a ten-round fight. He opted to do so because he had the confidence as he had won several international medals, including an Asian Games bronze, during his amateur career which was hurt by lack of resources and politics within the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF).

According to Waseem’s Manager Andy Kim, the 28-year-old was in his best shape for the most important bout of his life and winning the title will change his career. “He is in great form, and Korean boxers aren’t on his level,” Kim told the media.

“He sparred against amateur national Korean boxers here but he dominated them, so we are looking at a good fight against Jether Oliva. It will be a big feat for him to win the WBC title as he will get his name among the top boxers in the circuit,” he added.