Pakistan’s two-time WBA bantamweight world gold champion Mohammad Waseem says persistent visa delays are preventing him from pursuing major international boxing opportunities, forcing him to spend valuable time dealing with travel documentation instead of focusing on his career.
The Quetta-born boxer revealed that he submitted his passport to the Spanish Embassy in July but was still waiting for a visa as of November 11. He said the delay had affected his ability to accept international fight offers and prepare for upcoming competitions.
“Most of my time is wasted running after visas,” Waseem told The Express Tribune, expressing frustration over the lack of institutional support for Pakistani athletes competing internationally.
Visa Delays Affect International Boxing Career
Waseem said he had missed several opportunities to compete in Europe because of visa-related difficulties. He also recalled missing a world title fight in Dubai due to UAE visa issues.
On another occasion, he faced difficulties obtaining a visa for a Central Asian country where he intended to attend a training camp.
The boxer said he had been informed that obtaining a Spanish visa could take approximately four months, describing the delay as a major setback to his professional career.
According to Waseem, he has spent considerable time pursuing visa applications instead of maintaining his training schedule and preparing for important fights.
Boxer Renews Demand for Diplomatic Passport
Waseem said he first requested a diplomatic passport from the federal government during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration.
He added that he had approached the current government several times with the same request, but had not received a favourable response.
The boxer believes a passport that could help him obtain international visas without unnecessary delays would make it easier to accept overseas fight offers and attend training camps.
He appealed to the federal government to recognise the difficulties faced by professional athletes who must regularly travel abroad for competitions.
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International Achievements Bring Recognition
Waseem has established himself as one of Pakistan’s most successful professional boxers. He is a two-time WBA bantamweight world gold champion and a former three-time WBC world silver flyweight champion.
Over the past year, he won two WBA gold titles, with both championship bouts held in Pakistan. Quetta and Lahore hosted the events, allowing local boxing fans to watch him compete on home soil.
Before turning professional in 2015, Waseem represented Pakistan in amateur boxing for more than a decade.
His achievements include a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, in the same year.
He remains the last Pakistani boxer to win an Asian Games medal, as no other national boxer has secured a medal in the competition since his achievement.
Waseem Plans Return to European Boxing Circuit
Despite the setbacks, Waseem remains determined to continue his international career and pursue another world title opportunity.
His promotion team is working to arrange a world title fight, while the boxer also intends to approach Europe-based promoters to secure a ranking bout.
He said he usually trains in Liverpool under long-time coach Danny Vaughan and plans to travel to the United Kingdom before moving elsewhere in Europe once his visa is issued.
Waseem has suffered only two defeats in his professional career, both against former world champions. His losses came against South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane in Kuala Lumpur and England’s Sunny Edwards in Dubai in March 2022.
The boxer believes timely government support could help him make better use of international opportunities and add more major titles to Pakistan’s sporting achievements.
For now, his immediate challenge remains securing a Spanish visa and returning to the international boxing circuit.
Source: The Express Tribune
