ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight champion M Waseem has urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and multi-nationals to sponsor him to prepare for the upcoming world championship in the USA.

Talking to The Nation, Waseem said: “It is quite disheartening that my achievements are not recognised by government or any other top level personality. I have won three pro-fights in Korea and became Korean champion. Korean Andy Kim has been sponsoring me and bearing all my expenditures. I was trained at Las Vegas, USA at Floyd Mayweather Boxing Academy for two months and then trained at Japan for around 45 days with Floyd Mayweather’s uncle Stephen Mayweather.”

“When all doors were almost closed, a ray of hope rose as Korean’s lent helping hand to me and bore all my expenditures and assured top class training abroad. I could have easily knocked out Philippines’ Jether Oliva, had I was getting international training a bit earlier. Now after watching me winning the first bout, I am quite sure the government, IPC minister and PSB Director General have realised that I got the potential and guts to excel at the top.

“I humbly request them to help me in this time of need, as it will not only help me achieve personal glory, but also help in earning good name and fame for my beloved country,” he added.

Wasim said it was quite strange that only President Mamnoon Hussain, Governor Sindh, Imran Khan, Sh Rashid Ahmed, Malik Riaz Hussain and a few others sent him congratulatory messages, and no one else bothered to say a few words of appreciation for him. “I am grateful to Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri for announcing Rs 5 million for me and promising to bear all the expenditures required for training in USA and finances required for bouts. I am also thankful to Corps Commander Balochistan Amir Riaz for appreciating my services and awarding me cash prize of Rs two million. Property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain also announced Rs 0.5 million for me. But all this is not enough for my tough, long and hard training and in USA.”

“I request government and multinationals to step forward to help me achieve my targets. I hope the IPC Minister will announce special grant for me, so that I may embark on training in USA, as within next two weeks, I will know the exact details about my title fight. I promise i will not let the country and sponsors down,” Waseem concluded.