Ubayd Haider is currently recuperating in the Intensive Care Unit at Lautoka Aspen Hospital following a challenging fight against China’s Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific Super Featherweight title last Saturday night at Prince Charles Park, Nadi.
Haider, born Nathan Singh, faced significant strikes from Zhou, enduring heavy body punches throughout the match and spending much of his time in a defensive stance. Zhou, relentless in his approach, managed to knock Haider down twice in the ninth round, and he failed to rise before the count following the second fall.
After the fight, Haider collapsed while heading to the changing room and received immediate attention from the ringside doctor. He was first transported to Nadi Hospital before being moved to Lautoka, where he is still receiving care.
Zhou explained that their game plan was straightforward: to target Haider’s body and finish him off late in the bout. “He (Haider) was smiling too much and not punching enough,” remarked Zhou, who is now the titleholder. He emphasized the importance of continuous pressure on Haider throughout the fight.
Zhou’s trainer, Angelo Hyder, spoke pointedly about Haider’s preparations. He questioned whether Haider’s coaching team adequately understood the level of competition he would face. “I don’t know who is training him. I don’t know the level of sparring he has had, and how he can prepare for someone like this,” Hyder stated. He added that Zhou had access to various sparring partners, which gives him an edge in the ring.
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