Pakistan’s boxing scene has been rocked by fresh controversy as two major bodies, the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) and the Pakistan Pro-Green Boxing Federation (PGBF), have questioned the legitimacy of rising star Usman Wazeer’s recent title victory, a news website reported.
On August 30, the undefeated Gilgit-born boxer secured the WBC OPBF Silver welterweight belt after knocking out 44-year-old Stevie Ongen Ferdinandus in Bangkok. With a flawless record of 17 wins in 17 fights, Wazeer was widely hailed as a national hero. However, critics are now challenging the authenticity of his success.
In a scathing statement, the PGBF labeled Wazeer a “manufactured champion,” alleging that his career has been padded with handpicked, low-tier opponents, manipulated results, and inflated media coverage. They claimed over PKR 45 million was spent building his image, with opponents allegedly paid to lose and officials influenced.
The PBF echoed these concerns, demanding transparency and a review of the Bangkok bout. They highlighted Ferdinandus’ inactive status, describing the match as a “clear mismatch.”
Wazeer’s camp has not responded yet, but the accusations have triggered intense debate over integrity and fairness in Pakistan’s boxing landscape.
Usman Wazeer is a Pakistani professional boxer from Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan, born on April 16, 2000. He’s known as “The Asian Boy” and currently holds an unbeaten record of 17 wins and 0 losses, with 11 knockout victories. Here’s a brief overview of his achievements
– Won the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) welterweight title in 2020 by defeating Boido Simanjuntak via TKO in the 5th round.
– Retained the ABF title by defeating Carlos Lopez in the 6th round via TKO in 2020.
Major Victories:
– Won the WBO Youth welterweight title by defeating Somphot Seesa via knockout in the 6th round in 2022, becoming the first Pakistani boxer to win the WBO Youth World Title.
– Won the WBC Silver Welterweight title by defeating Indonesian fighter Stevie Ongen Ferdinandus, although the Pakistan Boxing Federation disputed the legitimacy of this title.
Career Milestones:
– Made his professional debut in 2019 against Brahim Oubenais, winning by split decision.
– Successfully retained his titles and continued to build an undefeated record.
Current Ranking:
– Ranked 86th in the world.