Bilal Fawaz: British light-middleweight champion fighting for a British passport

Fawaz is on a 10-year ‘route to settlement’ and will be 43 before becoming eligible for British citizenship.

Under this route, people must complete 10 years of lawful residence before applying for indefinite leave to remain. The granting of that status allows them to stay in the UK without immigration restrictions.

British citizenship can then be applied for – if relevant requirements are met.

The UK has shorter settlement routes, including five-year routes available to people who meet the requirements of certain immigration categories.

The route someone follows depends on the basis of their immigration status and their individual circumstances, including factors such as family life, work, length of residence and private life in the UK.

It is not clear whether the 10-year route was the only option available to Fawaz or why that route applied in his case.

The Home Office previously said the decision to place Fawaz on a 10-year route to settlement was not made by the department.

Without a passport, Fawaz cannot accept potentially lucrative fights in countries such as Saudi Arabia or the United States. He can, however, take up such opportunities in the UK.

He believes he could already have become a world champion had he received a passport in his early 20s.

“The government are denying him that opportunity, which is so wrong,” says Hearn, who would also stand to benefit from being able to get Fawaz fights overseas.

“I could get him a big fight in America. I could get him a fight in Saudi. This is a story that resonates in any part of the world. How can you not be allowed to travel?”

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.