Fawaz was born on 3 April 1988 in Lagos. According to his own statements, he was born stateless because his parents were unable to pass on citizenship to him. In 2002, at the age of fourteen, he came to London without valid immigration documents. After a difficult period in a host family and subsequently in foster care, he began a lengthy struggle with the British immigration authorities. From November 2017 to January 2018, he was detained at Tinsley House and was subsequently released on bail following a public petition. As an amateur, Fawaz won an ABA light-middleweight title in early 2012, collected titles in multiple weight classes, and represented England internationally six times. According to available reports, he was not selected for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games because he did not have a British passport. His official professional debut followed on 11 February 2022. On 21 February 2026, he defeated Ishmael Davis by majority decision in Nottingham and won the British and Commonwealth super-welterweight titles. Fawaz trains at Stonebridge Boxing Club in Harlesden under Aamir Ali and, according to reports, still has to report regularly to the immigration authorities.
United Kingdom
