Eddie Hearn says the UK government should be embarrassed that Bilal Fawaz still does not have a British passport, despite living in the United Kingdom for more than 20 years.
Hearn’s comments come as Fawaz continues to deal with a passport status that he says blocks him from fighting abroad and also makes family travel more difficult. The British light-middleweight champion has become one of the more striking stories in the sport because the issue remains unresolved even after years in the country.
A long fight beyond the ring
Fawaz’s background helps explain why his case has drawn attention. He says he was trafficked to the United Kingdom at age 14, and after arriving in London he was confined in a house and prevented from attending school or mixing with other children. He later entered the care system and received convictions for minor offences during his youth.
Fawaz has said, “My best friend was the window,” and added, “I could see people walking and kids outside playing, but I wasn't allowed to play with them.” He also said, “I've never robbed anything,” and, “I've never beaten anyone up. I've never done anything that's atrocious.”
Speaking about the lack of support he felt growing up, Fawaz said, “I was just a kid who needed guidance and I never had that. Somebody should have taken care of me and fixed my whole life before I turned 18.”
Hearn pushes for action
Hearn has been especially blunt about the delay. “What on earth is the hold-up?” he said. He also suggested the issue should be pushed to the top of government, saying, “You want to go down to Number 10 and bang on the door and say: 'Any chance of dealing with this?' It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.”
He went even further, saying, “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.'”
For Fawaz, the passport issue is not just a paperwork problem. It affects where he can box and how easily he can move around outside the UK. That makes the case bigger than a single fighter’s administrative delay. It is also why the documentary Fighting for Freedom has helped bring his story to a wider audience.
What comes next
Fawaz remains in the spotlight after beating Ryan Kelly in Wolverhampton in May to defend his British and Commonwealth titles. But the passport question still hangs over his career. Until it is resolved, the practical limits on international boxing and travel remain part of his story, even as he continues to compete at a high level in the UK.
