Sports
Waseem ready to take on Jakrawut in WBA title defence | The Express Tribune
The 38-year-old trained in Liverpool for the event that will feature at least 38 international boxers in Lahore
Muhammad Waseem with his World Boxing Association World Gold title belt. PHOTO COURTESY: MUHAMMAD WASEEM
KARACHI:
“I am trying my best and doing everything for the big fight night on November 29,” Pakistan’s solitary World Boxing Association Gold World Bantamweight champion Muhammad Waseem exclaimed as he is staging the biggest boxing event, where he is defending his title against Thailand’s Jakrawut Majungoen.
Waseem had been training in Liverpool with his coach, Danny Vaughan, and he will be fulfilling his dream of defending the title on home turf.
The 38-year-old also held the fight in Quetta in May, with the help of the Pakistan Army and the Balochistan Government, where international boxers and officials came to the country to witness the first professional bout backed by one of the four recognized boxing bodies in the world.
On Saturday, November 29, the main card flaunts more than seven bouts, and the event features at least 38 foreign boxers and six Pakistani pugilists at Lahore’s Garrison Club.
Waseem, also known as Falcon, has also been working with WBA to promote boxing in Pakistan.
With this bout, he will be bringing boxers from the United Kingdom, the US, Mexico, Germany, and France, according to details shared by Punjab Minister of Sports Faisal Ayub Khokhar, who also toured the Garrison Club for the ‘Fight for Glory’ event.
The provincial minister is also ensuring excellent security arrangements, as this will be the first time the country is hosting 38 foreign boxers at once.
However, with all the hype, Waseem, with his orthodox stance, will be taking on south paw Jakrawut, for which he has worked hard.
“I’ve been training very hard because there is a lot on the line for me,” Waseem told this correspondent from Liverpool, where he was training and putting in at least five hours every day.
“The game plan will be different against Jakrawut than my previous opponent, of course, and mainly there is a focus on combinations; he is a south paw as well, so I am training accordingly.
Later, he took on Sunny Edwards for the International Boxing Federation World flyweight title in 2021, which he lost, but finally won another major bout with the WBA Gold World title in May this year.
Waseem has won accolades for Pakistan in amateur boxing, too, but his professional record is also impressive, with 14 wins out of 16 bouts, and posting 10 knockouts in them.
“Most of the efforts go into strength training, weight, and technique, but also it becomes very hectic at times, because I have to travel at least two hours to Manchester, where I have to spar,” he added.
He added that sparring partners he had in the UK were all helpful in preparing for the fight, as he also gets support from the boxing community in the UK.
“I had amazing sparring partners, and a few of them were also professional boxers, one of them was Indian as well, but the rest of them were English.
“Normally, it is not easy to find sparring partners in the UK, but they are helping me for nothing, only out of goodwill.
“It is encouraging, and for that I have to travel 40 miles from Liverpool. A lot of my time is spent in travelling after training for the fight, and at times, it does become difficult to be out here, away from my two children, and my family, but I believe that this event can be a great trendsetter for Pakistan,” said Waseem, who has previously won the World Boxing Council silver flyweight title in 2016, and successfully defended it as well the same year.
He is also getting American rapper Mr Cappone-E to open for him, while at the heart of it all is to give a taste of professional boxing to the Pakistani sports lovers and, more importantly, a chance to Pakistani boxers to compete in an international event.
With this event, the goal is to make boxing an accessible sport for both the fans and the boxers.
“I am coming from Quetta, and I am always connected to the boxing community, and it breaks my heart that most of the time they are ignored and deprived of opportunities that can change their lives.
“So my goal is to provide exposure for them, help professional boxing take root in Pakistan, too. “We are also making sure that we assist women boxers to have their spot in our event, because at the end of the day, all of this will build our boxing community up.
“I am also grateful to the government of Punjab and the Army for helping me in this, because holding an event of this magnitude wouldn’t be possible without their support,” he concluded.
Sports
Transfer rumors, news: Man United want Scott McTominay back
Manchester United are considering a move to bring Scott McTominay back to Old Trafford but could face competition from Arsenal, while Liverpool are interested in activating Antoine Semenyo‘s release clause in January. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s grades | Women’s grades
TOP STORIES
– Sources: Pogba set to end two-year exile from football
– Messi ‘first phone call’ to make for Barcelona presidential candidate
– Sources: Man United rejected Chelsea’s Lavia, Nkunku in Garnacho deal
TRENDING RUMORS
– Arsenal and Manchester United have sounded out a move for Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, TEAMtalk reports. The former United player has enjoyed a career-best spell in Serie A since making his £25 million move last year, most notably winning the MVP award last season as his side lifted the Scudetto. The 28-year-old also scored a stunning overhead kick against Denmark earlier this week to help Scotland qualify for their first World Cup finals since 1998. As such, the player is wanted by a host of Premier League clubs, who would need to stump up at least £70m to secure his services next summer.
– Liverpool are “seriously interested” in Antoine Semenyo, whose £60m release clause becomes active in January, Fabrizio Romano reports. Bournemouth hope they can retain the winger until June, when his release clause drops to around £50m. However, the final decision is likely to be with Semenyo, who may well be the subject of several offers in January. Alongside Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have also been linked with the 25-year-old, who has nine goal involvements in 11 Premier League matches so far this season.
– Manchester United are tracking Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, according to The Times. United view the England international as a potential long-term replacement for Casemiro, who is expected to leave Old Trafford next summer. Anderson has also been linked with Liverpool and Newcastle United, despite recently being valued at around the £100m mark. The 23-year-old has been a standout performer for Forest this season, and has also established himself as a regular starter for England under manager Thomas Tuchel.
– Inter Milan are interested in signing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez in January amid doubts over Yann Sommer‘s future at the club, according to Football Insider. The Argentina international was heavily linked with a transfer back in the summer, but a reported move to Manchester United ultimately failed to materialize. Villa are willing to sanction a midseason exit as long as a suitable replacement can be found.
– Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are concretely interested in Anderlecht midfielder Nathan De Cat, according to Sky Germany. The Belgian giants are holding out for a bid of around €25m, as De Cat is under contract until the summer of 2027. Bayer Leverkusen are also in the race to sign the youngster, who has played 14 times in the league this season for Anderlecht, scoring once. He is also a Belgium under-18 international with four caps to his name.
EXPERT TAKE
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Marcotti: Conte reinvented McTominay, Napoli en route to Serie A title
Gab Marcotti and Craig Burley react to Napoli’s second Serie A title in three seasons under Antonio Conte.
OTHER RUMORS
– Liverpool are battling to retain England youth winger Joshua Abe, with Arsenal and Chelsea both pursuing the 15-year-old. (Daily Mail)
– Real Madrid and Antonio Rüdiger remain open to extending his expiring contract beyond 2026. However, interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia “remains strong”, while a return to the Premier League also cannot be ruled out. (Sky Germany)
– Harvey Elliott could be on the move in January, with clubs in the Bundesliga and Serie A interested. The 22-year-old is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Liverpool but has played just 97 minutes of Premier League football for the club so far. (Football Insider)
– Bayern Munich have enquired about Nantes defender Tylel Tati, who has a €50m valuation. (Footmercato)
– Tottenham Hotspur have “zeroed in” on Porto forward Samu Aghehowa, who is viewed as the ideal profile of striker for manager Thomas Frank. (TEAMtalk)
– Sunderland have reopened talks to try to sign Matteo Guendouzi from Lazio in January. (Nicolo Schira)
– Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad could be set for a loan move in January as he looks to rebuild match fitness. (Sky Sports News)
– Crystal Palace want to cut short the loan of Getafe forward Christantus Uche. Uche, 22, joined the Eagles on a season-long loan but the Nigerian international has played only eight minutes in the Premier League this season. (Diario AS)
Sports
PSL to Auction Two New Teams on January 6 – SUCH TV
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to achieve a new milestone, with the auction for two new teams scheduled for January 6, 2026.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), only bidders who meet the technical qualifications will be allowed to participate in the auction.
The PSL has already shortlisted six cities for potential new franchises, including Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.
PSL Chief Executive Officer, Salman Naseer, said the league is rapidly emerging as one of the best international T20 competitions.
On November 20, 2025, the PCB finalized the two new teams and the cities that will make their debut in the upcoming PSL season.
Gilgit and Faisalabad have been identified as the leading candidates for the expansion slots.
Gilgit will represent Pakistan’s northern region, while Faisalabad, a historic cricketing hub long overdue for PSL representation, is expected to join the league and contribute to its next chapter.
The final decision signals a clear intent to widen the league’s geographic footprint and provide new regions with a platform in mainstream franchise cricket.
The PCB has already completed the independent valuation process for existing PSL teams and commercial properties, a crucial step before introducing new franchises into the ecosystem.
With financial assessments finalized, the board is preparing for one of the largest structural transitions in PSL history.
Sports
Transfer rumors, news: Man United eye Ajax young talent Mokio
Manchester United are keeping tabs on 17-year-old Ajax star Jorthy Mokio, alongside Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt while Rennes duo Jérémy Jacquet and Mohamed Meïté are on the radar of the Red Devils. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s grades | Women’s grades
TOP STORIES
– Messi ‘first phone call’ to make for Barcelona presidential candidate
– Sources: Man United rejected Chelsea’s Lavia, Nkunku in Garnacho deal
– Real Madrid striker Mbappé ups PSG compensation claim to $300m
TRENDING RUMORS
– Highly rated Ajax star Jorthy Mokio is on the radar of Man United, Newcastle United, and Eintracht Frankfurt, according to Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sports Switzerland. Mokio, 17, is under contract until 2027 but talks have stalled over new terms and he is reportedly looking to take the next step in his career. The defensive midfielder, who made his senior Belgium debut in March, can also play as a center back and left back, which makes him a valuable option to have.
– Man United are also keeping tabs on Rennes duo Jérémy Jacquet and Mohamed Meite, according to The Sun. The report claims that a scout was spotted at Rennes’ 1-0 win at Paris FC on Nov. 7 and revealed they were there to watch defender Jacquet, 20, who has played every minute so far this season, and 18-year-old striker Meita, who is considered more of a youth prospect. Arsenal and Crystal Palace were strongly linked with a move for Jacquet last summer, before he extended his contract with until 2029.
– Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney is considering taking a 50% salary cut in order to move back to the Premier League to aid his chances of playing for England at the World Cup, according to TEAMtalk. Toney, 29, has scored 11 goals in 15 games this season, and 41 goals in 59 appearances in total since his £40 million move to Saudi Arabia from Brentford in 2024, but believes he needs to return to a higher level to give him any chance of making Thomas Tuchel’s squad next summer. Tottenham Hotspur remain favorites to sign him, but face competition from Everton.
– Crystal Palace believe Liverpool are the only club interested in signing center back Marc Guéhi in the January transfer window, according to Sky Sports. Guehi’s contract runs until the end of the season and he’s free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club outside England from Jan. 1. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all reported to be keen, but Liverpool are expected to make the first move when the window opens as they have lost Giovanni Leoni to a long-term injury and there is uncertainty around Ibrahima Konaté‘s future.
– Fiorentina‘s primary target for January is Chelsea‘s 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong, according to Tuttomercatoweb. Acheampong has had chances in the first team but is reported to be open to a move away and the Serie A team are considering a loan with an option to sign him permanently. If they can’t pull that off then Chelsea center back Axel Disasi, 27, is another target as he has been frozen out of the first-team squad.
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN’s resident scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen looks at Rennes’ two young stars.
In only his first full year of his top-flight career, Jacquet has emerged as one of the most promising young center backs in France. What makes him stand out at this early stage is how complete he already looks.
His standout traits are his game-reading and calmness; he is composed on the ball — seven progressive passes per 90 minutes this season — and measured when defending. He rarely overcommits, preferring to wait out the attacker and win the ball cleanly, either through an interception or controlled sliding challenge … which has become a signature feature of his game.
Jacquet moves fluidly, hits top speed quickly and consistently looks like he has an extra gear even when up against the speediest opponents. While at 6-foot-2 he isn’t that imposing, he compensates with an impressive vertical leap and his 74% aerial win rate is the best in Ligue 1 among center backs with more than 1,000 league minutes this season.
Then, at the other end of the pitch, Meïte is in the process of establishing himself as a No. 9 prospect. At 6-foot-4, the 18-year-old offers the classic physical profile of a target man and has won 75% of his duels off the ground this season, but he also has more mobility and finesse — flicks, good touch, clever lay-offs — than his size may suggest.
Last season he was brought up from the reserves and produced two goals in 12 league games. This season he has continued to earn the trust of his manager, registering just short of 600 senior minutes and adding a small-but-steady stream of goal contributions while generating 13 shots (he’s a high-volume shooter at 3.4 shots per 90) on target.
The France U21 international’s defining feature is arguably his penalty-box presence. He attacks crosses with confidence, uses his body intelligently to fend off opponents, and is able to find space to run on either side of the center backs. The fact he has already started high-profile games ahead of more established forwards reflects how highly Rennes rate him.
OTHER RUMORS
1:54
Will Gabriel’s injury impact the Premier League title race?
Don Hutchison has his say on the Premier League title race, after the news of a thigh injury for Arsenal defender Gabriel.
– Paris Saint-Germain are hoping to beat Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid to the signing of Lille’s 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for a fee of around €45 million. (Ekrem Konur)
– VfB Stuttgart defensive midfielder Angelo Stiller would prefer to join Real Madrid over Manchester United. (Defensa Central)
– Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri could leave on loan in January in an effort to get more games under his belt. (Daily Mail)
– Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 33, could move to Besiktas on loan in January, with a permanent option. (Sport)
– Bayern Munich and Barcelona are exploring the possibility of signing left back Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen. The 30-year-old prefers a return to Spain, which suits Leverkusen, who would much rather he left for LaLiga than join their Bundesliga rivals. (Marca)
– Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen could leave the Blues in January after just 18 months at the club as he seeks more game time. (TalkSPORT)
– Inter Milan are battling with Napoli over the signing of Genoa’s 24-year-old midfielder Morten Frendrup, who they see as a more realistic target than Roma’s Manu Kone. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– AC Milan are on the lookout for a defender in January, and top of their list — should they fail to land 41-year-old Thiago Silva from Fluminense — is Udinese center back Thomas Kristensen. The 23-year-old could be available for a fee of €20 million. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Juventus have made contact with Lecce over young Portuguese defender Tiago Gabriel. The Bianconeri could offer a loan player in order to fend off competition from Brentford, who are reported to be lining up a €20 million bid. (Tuttosport)
– Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza is attracting interest from all over Europe, with Arsenal, Real Madrid, Valencia and Como all interested in the Spain U20 star. (Informacion)
– Real Betis, Dinamo Zagreb, Mainz and Bologna are all monitoring the situation of Girona goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who is in search of more minutes to ensure he stays as Croatia No.1 ahead of the 2026 World Cup. (Ekrem Konur)
– Spanish goalkeeper and free agent Vicente Guaita is closing in on a one-year deal with Parma, who are desperate for cover following an injury to regular No. 1 Zion Suzuki. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Roma are considering a move for Tottenham Hotspur forward Mathys Tel who is reported to be unhappy in London following his move from Bayern Munich. The Giallorossi are also tracking Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
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