Lack of attention to boxing, Pakistan is on brink of losing another polished talent, as Silver flyweight champion Muhammad Waseem is planning to move abroad due to lack of sponsorship.

Currently the undefeated boxer is in Lahore preparing for his world title bout against Japan’s Daigo Higa.  But a perennial lack of sponsorship means this could be the last time he is seen training in his own country.

The 30-year-old recently returned from a four-month stay in Panama, where he took part in a trio of bouts, winning all fights and improving his unblemished record to 8-0.

Pakistani Champ knocks out Panama’s Valdez

But yet again, awaiting the Quetta-born on his return to his land was apathy on the part of his countrymen as well as sponsors.

Talking to the Express tribune, he said, “I started training in Lahore last week. Shapes is letting me use their facilities without any charge. Their support is invaluable for me but not many Pakistanis have come forward to help me. It’s as if private and corporate sponsors are not even interested in boxing. It has been disappointing for us, and I am thinking about leaving Pakistan for good. What’s the point in staying in a country where people fail to acknowledge your achievements.”

Commenting on his next opponent, Waseem said, “Higa has won most of his fights in Japan, and Japanese don’t necessarily like Koreans much. Conditions too will favour Higa. There’s no other way for me but to knock him out. If we had sponsorship from Pakistan, we could’ve staged the fight at a neutral venue.”