Ubayd Haider is currently recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at Lautoka Aspen Hospital following his match against China’s Runqi Zhou for the IBO Asia Pacific Super Featherweight title at Prince Charles Park in Nadi last Saturday night.
Haider, born Nathan Singh, endured significant body punches throughout the fight, spending most of his time on the defensive. Zhou, displaying relentless aggression, ultimately prevailed when Haider fell to the canvas twice in the ninth round and failed to rise by the second count.
After the fight, Haider collapsed while heading to the changing room and required immediate medical attention from the ringside doctor. He was initially taken to Nadi Hospital before being transferred to Lautoka, where he continues to receive care.
Zhou commented that their strategy was straightforward: to work on body punches and tire Haider in the later rounds. “He (Haider) had too much smiling and not too much punching,” said Zhou, who now holds the title. He emphasized the importance of consistent pressure, stating, “Bodywork, bodywork and stop him in the later round. I love you Fiji, vinaka.”
Zhou’s trainer, Angelo Hyder, criticized Haider’s training approach, suggesting that his team should have understood the challenges of facing Zhou. “I don’t know who is training him (Haider), I don’t know the level of sparring and how can he prepare for this guy,” Hyder remarked. He pointed out that Zhou has extensive sparring experience, which is crucial for fighting at higher levels, stating, “You want to be on the top level, you must be where the top level is.”
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