Bilal Kelvin Fawaz born c. 1988 in Nigeria is UK-based Nigerian amateur boxer of mixed Lebanese and Benin origin. He came to England while he was 14 years old. He was crowned the Amateur Boxing Association of England in the light-welterweight champion. He represented England internationally for six times.
Born to a mother from Benin and a father of Lebanese origin. Fawaz says he had a difficult childhood. His mother abused him and his father left him with an "uncle", a relative or a family friend, Fawaz isn't sure, in Lagos. When Fawaz was 14, his "uncle" announced he was taking him to London to reunite him with his father. His mother was murdered in religious riots. Fawaz stayed in the UK starting age 14 on temporary permits without immigration papers ever since.[1] On arriving in London in 2002, Fawaz was put with a family who he says regularly abused him trafficking him into "domestic servitude".[2] After escaping home at age 15, the British social services public system put him in a group foster home in west London until he turned 16, then moved him to a halfway house for older teenagers. Both his parents were dead. Eventually he was granted temporary leave to remain in the UK until age 18 and has been illegal ever since.[1]
Taking on boxing, Fawaz trained as an amateur boxer. First, he got involved in boxing through a sports day event at Brunel University in west London. After a few months, he moved to All Stars, a long-running local club with a reputation for working with troubled young men. He married in 2011 but the marriage eventually broke down in 2014.[2] He received a national diploma in sports science. In early 2012, he won the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) national competition, becoming light middleweight champion of England. He later held the London middleweight title. He acquired three championship belts in three different weight classes.[2] He represented England internationally for six times including against his home country Nigeria.[1][3] He was considered for Team GB for both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, but was unable to because he has no passport.[2] In 2014, the English boxing manager and promoter Frank Warren offered Fawaz a professional contract.[2] But he was forced to turn the reported £200,000 down because of his immigration status forbidding him any legal income.[1] He is trained and managed by Aamir Ali the owner of Stonebridge Boxing Club in Brent. Fawaz also helps youngsters in the gym training them in boxing.[2]
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