BoxingAfrica.com has learned that WBO Global super bantamweight champion Wasiru Mohammed has been slated to make his US debut on April 10 against Florentino Perez Hernandez.
Mohammed is billed to fight on a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing after finalizing a promotional deal with American-based D&D Boxing, headed by Cameron Dunkin.
The April 10 card is also expected to feature undefeated, rising welterweight phenom Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a major step-up bout as he takes on former world champion Sergey Lipinets. Ennis is managed by Dunkin.
“Wasiru is in line to return in April due to a proposal that was brought by his new promoter,” said a source with knowledge of the situation. “The opponent has been named and the only thing left is to sign formalities to make it official.”
Should the fight happen, it will be Mohammed’s first bout in over a year—January 2020, when he destroyed John Amuzu of Benin in Accra. The 24-year-old has been inactive due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana which led to a halt on all sporting activities for seven months.
Mohammed, 12-0 (11 KOs), has captured smaller titles such as the WBO Africa and Global belts. He is currently ranked number-eight by the WBO in the super bantamweight division.
An excited Mohammed says he’s ready for everyone in the stacked 122-pound weight class, a division that includes champions Luis Nery, Stephen Fulton Jr., Brandon Figueroa, and Murodjon Akhmadaliev, as well as dangerous boxers such as Daniel Roman, Angelo Leo, Ra’eese Aleem, and more.
“I am not afraid of anyone at super bantamweight,” Mohammed told BoxingAfrica.com. “I feel great fighting in that division and I am looking forward to challenging anyone who would stand my way.
“That is the only way to become a world champion. You have to be ready to face any opponent in the ring if you really want to achieve that.”
Mohammed’s professional journey began on April 2019, 2017, when he stopped Isaac Mensah in his pro debut. He first fell in love with the sport at age eight His motivation for choosing boxing over football was due to trainer Lartekwei Lartey giving him coins whenever he attended training.
That was enough for him to trade the pitch for the ring.
“I grew up at Kokomlemle in Accra and there was a boxing gym opposite our house,” said Mohammed. “So, whenever there was a fight, we come out to watch and that is where the interest started.
“I was very young at the time and I remember I used to follow my elder brothers to play football without getting anything but I got financial reward for joining training at the gym so I chose boxing.”
In 2018, Mohammed became a sparring partner to former WBO world 122-pound champion Isaac Dogboe. During one of sparring session, he met his future manager, John Manfo.
Manfo, a member of Team Dogboe at the time, was impressed with the young boxer.
“He has massive talent. I noticed that right from the very first time I met him,” Manfo said. “I knew from that very day that I can manage and make him a world champion so I took up the challenge.
“I think we are closer to achieving that now and I believe with Cameron Dunkin on board he has the perfect opportunity to realize his dreams on Showtime.”
The plan is for Mohammed to eventually move to the US, where better sparring and facilities await. He’ll remain in Ghana for the time being, as he prepares to make his American debut.
His opponent, Mexico’s Perez, is 14-5-2 (9 KOs). He’ll be making his US debut as well – Mohammed will be a huge favorite going in.
