Ubayd Haider is currently recovering in the Intensive Care Unit at Lautoka Aspen Hospital after suffering significant injuries during his recent match against China’s Runqi Zhou. The fight for the IBO Asia Pacific Super Featherweight title took place last Saturday night at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
Haider, formerly known as Nathan Singh, faced numerous heavy body punches from Zhou, spending most of the bout in a defensive posture. In contrast, Zhou displayed an aggressive fighting style reminiscent of a determined Samurai, consistently applying pressure throughout the match.
The turning point came in the ninth round when Haider was knocked down twice. He was unable to rise in time after the second fall, leading to the match’s conclusion. Following the fight, Haider collapsed while heading to the changing room, prompting immediate medical attention from the ringside doctor.
He was first transported to Nadi Hospital before being taken to Lautoka, where he remains hospitalized. Zhou described their game plan as straightforward: to target Haider’s body early and aim for a stoppage in the later rounds. “He (Haider) had too much smiling and not too much punching,” Zhou remarked, expressing his appreciation for Fiji during his victory.
Zhou’s trainer, Angelo Hyder, criticized Haider’s preparation and questioned the level of training he received prior to facing his fighter. “I don’t know who is training him (Haider), I don’t know the level of sparring and how he can prepare for this guy,” Hyder stated. He emphasized the importance of training at a high level to compete successfully, citing Zhou’s extensive experience with sparring partners.
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