Pakistan’s star boxer and three-time WBC flyweight world silver champion Muhammad Waseem will face four-time world champion Donnie Nietes of the Philippines on July 22 in Dubai.
The bout was confirmed by Dubai-based Disrupt Promotions, who roped in Waseem recently.
Disrupt Promotions is owned by a group of businessmen from England and South Africa.
Earlier, in an interview with The News in April, Waseem said that he was looking forward to the fight against Nietes.
“Donnie is a four-time world champion in four different divisions and currently he is in the top four in the WBC flyweight rankings,” Waseem said.
“If arranged, it will be a tough fight as he is a top-ranked fighter but beating him will help me acquire top rankings.
“You know I have not played a fight since my world title shot a year ago in Dubai. The bad luck was that my former managers MTK Global ceased operations and this year Probellum also ceased its operations and handed over most of its assets to Disrupt Promotions.
“The issues wasted my crucial time and it also deprived me of top rankings due to barren patch. Now I will have to play a few ranking fights in order to improve my rankings before going for a title clash.
“Despite such matters my aim is to win the world title one day. I will not give up and will continue working hard to achieve my goal one day.”
Waseem last played the IBF flyweight world title on March 19, 2022, at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai where he lost to England’s Sunny Edwards despite almost dominating the fight.
Waseem has to his credit three WBC world silver titles so far. He won two in 2016, in the second year of his professional career, toppling Jether Oliva and Giemel Magramo, both of Philippines, in Seoul in July and November, respectively. He beat Rober Barrera of Colombia in Dubai in November 2021 to win his third such title.