Nietes vs Waseem Postponed
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 24 Jul 2023
Donnie Nietes was just about to climb onto the ring Saturday in Dubai to fight for his 5th world title.
But in the last minute, the fight got postponed.
Reason: the staff in charge of securing Waseem visa to the UAE made a fatal mistake in the processing, submitting wrong information to authorities in the UAE.
The error, of course, led to UAE immigration authorities to reject the wrong data. Waseem visa was not issued.
The postponement a disappointment for boxing fans. for Donnie and for Waseem.
Waseem was let down, not only for the purse that he did not get, but also for the chance of sharing the ring with the Pinoy legend, a man one day likely to be inducted into the boxing hall of fame.
That's why Waseem had been training hard.
Because, in his mind, he was about to be in a difficult mission against an experienced, skilled, big-heart warrior as the Negros Occidental great.
Yes indeed, Waseem was excited to share the spotlight with the affable, friendly and polite Filipino former 4-division world champion born in beautiful and peaceful Murcia, not far from the thrilling City of Bacolod.
What's more, the rumble was supposed to be for the vacant IBO bantamweight title.
Yes, the IBO belt is not as popular and prestigious as the one of the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF. But it is still an important title, and a winning it, could lead to knocking on golden doors in the hot bantamweight division.
According to various reports from Pakistan and the UAE, what happened was like this:
The talented, world-class Waseem was denied the visa specifically because a crucial mistake was made by the staff who was tasked with the job of filling out and submitting Waseem's application.
That's what was wrong.
Waseem had been in Scotland, looking forward to flying on Thursday to Dubai to meet Donnie, as well as the scale for the weigh-in ceremony on Friday, and then on to battle Donnie on Saturday.
That did not happen.
Of course, without a visa, Waseem could not fly. The outcome was a huge loss for the promoter "Disrupt Promotions," for the boxers, for their teams and for the sponsors.
For next time, it might be wise to ask for the assistance of a travel agency expert in visas.
As a result of all of this, the world title fight of Nietes with Waseem is now POSTPONED till further notice.
As fans might remember, Waseem has been out of the ring since his last fight in March of last year in Dubai, when he lost by points to reigning IBF flyweight world champion Sunny Edwards.
Now he wants to jump from 112 to 118 to battle Nietes. That is ok. Up to him.
Meanwhile, the popular Donnie "Ahas" Nietes is returning to action after his defeat by points in July of last year to Japanese reigning 115 world champion Kazuto Ioka.
The fight was being organized by newly formed Dubai-based Disrupt Promotions (who really got disrupted).
There is not yet official information from Disrupt Promotions on when/where will take place Nietes (43-2-6, 23 KO's) vs Waseem (12-2, 8 KO).
But fans guess that it might be sometime later this year in "The City of Gold," Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Philboxing.com will advise you. Don't worry.
The author Carlos Costa of Panama is an senior boxing writer living Asia since 1991. Carlos can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and whatsapp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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