Ashiq first Singaporean to battle for WBC title
He will face Filipino Butar Butar for the Silver super bantam belt on Nov 23
He had his first boxing match only three years ago, but Muhammad Ashiq, 23, will become the first Singaporean to compete for a World Boxing Council (WBC) title.
The WBC is one of the four major boxing sanctioning bodies alongside the World Boxing Organisation (WBO), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA).
Ashiq, who turned professional in August last year and is undefeated in five pro fights, will face experienced Filipino Jason Butar Butar, 29, for the WBC International Silver super bantamweight (up to 55kg) title at the Lion City Fury event at The Pavilion on Nov 23.
Silver titles - introduced by the WBC in 2011 - are similar to interim titles, meaning that if Ashiq beats Butar Butar, who has 28 wins, 24 losses and one draw, the Singaporean would earn a shot at the WBC International title, which is two rungs below the revered world title.
The WBC International super bantamweight champion is Briton Gavin McDonnell, 32.
"I'm really excited," said Ashiq. "It's the kind of opportunity I've been waiting for. To be honest, in terms of professional boxing titles, I know about only the WBC, so to get a chance to fight for it is a big thing for me."
Arvind Lalwani, his trainer and promoter, believes the youngster is primed to make a big statement.
"We hear a lot about boxers who are hungry, but from what I have seen, he's one of the few kids who truly has a burning desire," said Lalwani, a former national amateur boxer.
"He doesn't have an ego, he doesn't have distractions like a girlfriend or anything like that, he's a very humble kid. He just wants to keep fighting and improving every day... The sky is the limit for him."
Lalwani, who is a WBC-accredited promoter and manager, believes the fight will raise the sport's profile - which has enjoyed a surge in popularity in the last two years - even higher.
A number of former national amateur boxers have turned professional since 2016, and boxing events are regularly staged by different promoters.
Last year, a WBC belt was contested in Singapore for the first time, when Uzbekistan fighter Qudratillo Abduqaxorov won the Silver welterweight title from Zimbabwean Charles Manyuchi.
In recent years, Singaporean fighters have also competed for WBC Asia titles - the body is an WBC affiliate formally known as the Asian Boxing Council.
In addition to Ashiq, Lion City Fury will also feature other local professional boxers like Nurshahidah Roslie and Rafi Majid.
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