The United Kingdom moves to deport a Nigerian-born boxing champion who's represented it in major tournaments

shakirudeen taiwo

December 8, 2017 3:16 PM

Bilal's case is a clear opposite of Anthony Joshua's experience.

The current middleweight champion of London, Bilal Fawaz, has been booked for potential deportation to Nigeria after representing England for over six times in major international tournaments.

Bilal Fawaz, also known as Kelvin, is currently being held at Tinsley House immigration detention centre in Perimeter Road, South Gatwick, after spending a majority of formative years in London.

The 29-year old boxer was sent to the United Kingdom by his parent at age 14 but was made a domestic slave by an uncle. He ran away, but Stonebridge boxing club in Brent, West London, helped him turn a turbulent youth of petty crime around to become a national champion.

Speaking from the centre, Bilal stated that he fears being sent back to Nigeria where he has no family and doesn't know anyone.

“I've spent over half of my life here. I went to school here, I lived here, I've boxed for England five or six times and never lost,” he said.

"I am a national champion - in 2014 I even boxed for England against Nigeria, the country they want to deport me to. I have no other family to go back to, I don't know anyone in Nigeria or anything about it - all I know is here.”

Bilal's citizenships problem with the United Kingdom and Nigeria

The boxing champion also revealed getting a residency or citizenship in the United Kingdom has been challenging. All these are stated to be happening while he still flies the flag of England at major boxing tournaments.

“Imagine how it feels to represent a country and then to have that country turn around and put you in what feels like a prison.”

“I'm allowed to box for England but I'm not allowed to stay in England. I've helped kids in the Stonebridge Boxing gym, I've done things that make me a valuable citizen.”

"Being locked up here in the detention centre is like being in a prison."

He attempts at getting the citizenship of Nigeria was also rejected because the country has no record of him being born there.

“When someone has no leave to remain in the UK, we expect them to leave the country voluntarily. Where they do not, we will seek to enforce their departure,” says UN Home Office spokesman.

shakirudeen taiwo

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