EX BRITISH LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTING TO JOIN TERROR GROUP ISIS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 18 Jun 2015
Small.
Former British light middleweight champion Anthony Small who is now retired, is among three London men accused by a court of attempting to join terror group ISIS.
The BBC quoted prosecutor Richard Whittam who, in an opening statement at the trial said "The prosecution's case is they intended to travel to Syria to join and support what is called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, known as Isil or Isis."
Whittam said Small, who "enjoyed some success" as a British and Commonwealth light middleweight champion in 2009, had sold memorabilia shortly before his arrest.
The BBC reported that Small won the British and Commonwealth titles against Matthew Hall at Manchester's MEN Arena in July 2009, entering the ring to the sound of Frank Sinatra's My Way.
He then defended the titles successfully in November that year against Thomas McDonagh in Wigan, but was beaten by Sam Webb in Dagenham, Essex, in March 2010.
Small, Michael Coe and Simon Keeler were arrested last year on terror-related charges. Prosecutors allege that Small tried to smuggle jihadists out of the United Kingdom and into Syria, where they would then perform acts of terror in support of ISIS.
Columnist Tyler Conway of the internet site ?Boxing? reports that Small, who converted to Islam at age 24 and is otherwise known as Abdul Haqq, has been an outspoken supporter of the Islamic State group. He released a video in September of last year excusing ISIS beheadings of American journalists, saying they "[weren't] unprovoked." Small had previously participated in rallies calling for Great Britain to not involve itself with the War in Afghanistan.
British prosecutors also charged Small with disseminating terrorist publications, saying he published an article titled "Attacks By Muslims In Perspective" and recorded a speech titled "Another James Foley beheading."
All three men have maintained their innocence.
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