'Give him his passport' - Hearn backs British champion's citizenship fight

'Give him his passport' - Hearn backs British champion's citizenship fightByKal SajadBBC Sport boxing journalistPublished9 minutes agoThe UK government should be "embarrassed" that boxing champion Bilal Fawaz does not have a British passport after living in the country for more than 20 years, says his promoter Eddie Hearn.Fawaz, 38, was trafficked to the United Kingdom at the age of 14 and has not travelled outside the country since.The London-based light-middleweight represented England as an amateur before turning professional after receiving a work permit.He has since become British and Commonwealth champion, but his immigration status prevents him from fighting abroad - or taking his family on holiday."What on earth is the hold-up?" asked Hearn."You want to go down to Number 10 [Downing Street] and bang on the door and say: 'Any chance of dealing with this?' It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."If you were them, you'd almost be embarrassed. Someone should look at it and go, 'What are you guys doing? Give him his passport.'"A Home Office spokesperson told BBC Sport it does not routinely comment on individual cases.Fawaz's remarkable story is explored in the new BBC documentary Fighting for Freedom, which followed him as he prepared to defend his British title against Ryan Kelly in Wolverhampton in May.Image source, Matchroom BoxingImage caption, Bilal Fawaz (right) beat Ryan Kelly in Wolverhampton in May to defend his British and Commonwealth titlesFighting For Freedom - Bilal Fawaz Watch on iPlayer'My best friend was the window'Image source, Bilal FawazImage caption, Fawaz was trafficked to the United Kingdom aged 14 and held in conditions that amounted to modern slaveryBorn in Nigeria to a Beninese mother and Lebanese father, Fawaz says his childhood was shaped by abuse, neglect and a persistent feeling he did not belong.He was sent to live with relati...