National boxing champion Sherbaz Marri forced to work as laborer
KARACHI: Call it fate or irony, winner of several medals at national and provincial levels, Sherbaz Marri, is today forced to work as labourer to earn his livelihood.
Talking to MM News, Sherbaz Marri – who belongs to Quetta – said he came to Karachi to earn a living and currently he was working as a loader on daily wages.
Giving details about his success in professional boxing, Sherbaz said he has won medals all over Pakistan, including competitions in Balochistan and Sindh. “In foreign countries, fighters – who wins that much medals – are highly respected, but in Pakistan there is no acceptance,” he added.
When asked about participating in upcoming competitions, Sherbaz said, “I have been asked to pay Rs30,000 fee for the title fight, which I do not have. That’s the reason, I was forced to work as a laborer besides earning a living.”
“We have to prepare for the fight, we also have to take care of our diet, which costs a lot, but when we win something, then we don’t have any acceptance at any level,” he added.
Referring to international fights, the boxer said: “It costs Rs1 to 2 lakh to participate in Dubai competition and for the national-level fight, it takes Rs30,000 fee. In addition the diet costs too much. We have to quit work, we have to train hard, because when you do double training and eat well, you are able to fight.”
Boxer Sherbaz Marri has appealed to the government to give priority to sportsmen. “Pakistan has a lot of talent in the field of boxing. They have the ability to make Pakistan proud by winning at the Olympics,” he added.
