Ubayd Haider has labeled his upcoming South Pacific boxing IBO Oceania-Orient vacant featherweight title fight against China’s Runqi Zhou as the toughest challenge of his boxing career.
“My preparation for the fight started this week after a lengthy break, and I will ensure that I leave no stone unturned,” Haider stated.
He acknowledged a key difficulty: “There’s not much boxing activity here, and I lack sparring partners in Fiji.” As a result, Haider plans to concentrate on solo training.
“Zhou is a formidable opponent, and I must match him in the ring,” he added. “He has an impressive work rate; while he may not possess knockout power, he is skilled in boxing.”
The match will take place at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on October 26, and Haider is gearing up for a fierce battle against his Asian rival.
“I’ve been training alone due to my job and the match timing,” he noted, sharing that he trains at the Uptown boxing gym in Suva.
Haider is calling on fans to attend and witness the thrilling showdown. “It will be a bloodbath, with broken noses and cuts; we will be in a war during this fight,” he predicted.
He acknowledged the strength of Zhou’s training team, which includes world champions such as the Maloney twins, Alex Winwood, and Bruno Tarimo, all training together. “This is going to be a tough fight for me,” he remarked.
Haider expressed confidence that his critics would show up to watch him fight, especially those expecting him to lose. “I’m going to prepare myself well, and it will be a great fight,” he promised, emphasizing his determination for victory.
He highlighted that he has developed effective boxing footwork and benefits from a height advantage over Runqi Zhou.
“I am grateful to South Pacific Boxing promotions and Amarok Accessories for their support,” Haider concluded.