Ubayd Haider is currently recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at Lautoka Aspen Hospital following a tough 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, faced numerous heavy body punches during the fight and spent much of his time in a defensive posture. In contrast, Zhou aggressively maintained pressure throughout the bout. Haider hit the canvas twice in the ninth round and was unable to get back up after the second fall, leading to concerns for his well-being.
As he was leaving the ring, Haider collapsed and required medical attention from the ringside doctor. He was first taken to Nadi Hospital before being transferred to Lautoka for further treatment.
Zhou, who is now the title holder, stated that their strategy was straightforward: focus on body shots and overwhelm Haider in the later rounds. He commented, “He (Haider) had too much smiling and not too much punching. Bodywork, bodywork and stop him in the later round, just non-stop pressure. I love you Fiji, vinaka.”
Zhou’s trainer, Angelo Hyder, expressed his concerns about Haider’s preparation for the fight, questioning the quality of his training and sparring. He noted the importance of being exposed to high-level competition, stating, “Runqi has a lot of sparring partners which is very difficult at times. You want to be on the top level, you must be where the top level is.”
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