The inaugural Legal Blows Muslim Boxing Awards are set to take place on April 20 in Birmingham, England.
This first-of-its-kind occasion promises to be a ground-breaking event, where not only the skill of boxers will be honored, but also the values of fairness and justice within the sport will be championed.
Former Olympian and two-time world champion, Amir Khan, will be presenting the awards to the new wave of Muslim boxers from across the UK.
Top British Muslim boxing talent will be attending, including current WBC Silver Middleweight Champion Hamzah Sheeraz, youngest-ever European Super-Lightweight Champion Adam Azim, European Light-Heavyweight Champion Dan Azeez, and British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion Zak Chelli.
Numerous boxers from the top promoters will also be there, as well as influencer Abdu Rozik who will also lend his support.
The award ceremony is organized by Adil Hussain, the founder of Legal Blows, together with Platinum Promotions and the charity Global Ehsan Relief.
Hussain, who is based in Dubai and is a senior equity partner at a renowned global law firm, sees this event as being a significant step toward fostering a community of boxers who can serve as role models for the next generation.
Hussain combined his twin passions for both boxing and law, which led him to establish Legal Blows — a pro-bono legal organization dedicated to assisting boxers in navigating the complexities of business and legal agreements.
Through Legal Blows, he endeavors to educate boxers about their rights and provide them with the necessary legal support to safeguard their interests.
“The Legal Blows motto is, ‘We are here to give, not take’,” Hussain said.
“Fighters risk their lives every time they enter the boxing ring and it just seems unfair that after all expenses and costs have been paid, they are left with next to nothing,” he said. “This is why I strongly urge fighters to seek legal advice before they enter into any contractual agreements. However, the problem is that many fighters don’t have the finances to pay for legal fees so they end up signing whatever has been put in front of them.
“What I have tried to do via the Legal Blows instagram page (@LegalBlows) is to educate and guide boxers on legal and business matters and let them know that they have the ability to negotiate contracts in order to get more favorable terms.”
The inception of the Legal Blows Muslim Boxing Awards represents a milestone in the boxing community, signaling a departure from typical awards and further steps toward inclusivity and recognition.
Hussain emphasized that while the awards focus on Muslim fighters, they are open to all, reflecting the organization’s ethos of diversity, inclusivity and unity.
“It’s open to all, Muslims and non-Muslims,” he said. “We have many non-Muslim fighters who are part of the Legal Blows community and will be attending to support the event.”
Beyond celebrating athletic achievements, Hussein sees the awards as a platform to address pressing social issues, particularly among the youth in the Muslim community in the UK.
With a rise in knife crime plaguing many neighborhoods, Hussain views boxing as a constructive outlet for channelling energy and aspirations positively.
“In the UK, there’s a big knife crime issue,” he said.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the Muslim community, the youth from there, are falling into this,” Hussain said. “I want to say the to the youth, look at all of these individuals, they come from the same background, same communities, and they’re doing something with their life, using their energy in a positive way.
“There’s an alternative to knife crime, gang crime. Get away from that, get in the gym and aspire to be like these boxers,” he said, highlighting the transformative power of sport in steering young people away from destructive paths.
