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Young Wolverhampton boxer’s fitting tribute to his brother

A young Wolverhampton boxer whose brother was killed in a car crash aged just 18 has paid a special ring tribute to him.

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Zidane Tazeem competed and was crowned champion for his age category in the England Boxing National Schools Championships 2023.

Colton Hills School Year 7 pupil Zidane Tazeem competed and has just been crowned champion for his age category in the 2023 England Boxing National Schools Championships, held between May 13 and 14.

The Wolverhampton schoolboy is following in the footsteps of his older brother Ali Tazeem, who had been hailed as a promising prospect as a professional boxer by the likes of Amir Khan and Floyd Mayweather Snr.

Amir Khan with Ali Tazeem in 2020

But Ali, who was also a former Colton Hills pupil, died last year in a road accident.

He was the passenger in a car which hit a wall off Merridale Road in Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton.

Although Zidane has only been boxing for a year, he has now adopted his brother’s nickname in the ring and is now known as Zidane 'The Problem' Tazeem.

Stephen Blower, acting headteacher at the school in Rosemary Crescent West, said: “We are very proud of our students and all their pursuits, in and out of school, and will continue to cheer them on from the sidelines.”

The boys’ father, Toheed Tazeem, opened Pound 4 Pound Boxing Academy in Stafford Street, Walsall, because of his sons’ passion for the sport and the opening was even visited by Floyd Mayweather Snr – who famously trained his global superstar son Floyd Mayweather Jnr – and former world champion Amir Khan was pictured with Ali.

In other sporting news, another Colton Hills student qualified for a national squad as Year 10 student, Tai Bowen was recently selected to represent the English Karate Federation following his Commonwealth success.

Zidane Tazeem competed and was crowned champion for his age category in the England Boxing National Schools Championships 2023.

Tai, who trains regularly at IKON Martial Arts and Fitness Centre in Wolverhampton, secured a bronze medal at both the Commonwealth Karate Championships 2022 and again at the British Karate 4 Nations in Glasgow back in April for his group.

Meanwhile, Year 7 student Angelina Oleschuk, who is half Ukranian, opened the Eurovision semi-final show on May 2 with another boy, Josh Carslin, aged 10.

Angelina Oleschuk was a featured part of Eurovision in Liverpool

Angelina and Josh were picked after they submitted self-filmed audition videos and Angelina said she was still reeling from the experience

She said: "I am very honoured to have been given this opportunity to perform and represent Ukraine.

"I felt very warm and welcomed despite my nerves.”

Finally, as part of King’s Charles III’s Coronation celebrations, The Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Sandra Samuels OBE, held a poetry competition with the theme being “We Have One Chance”, about the environment.

Finalists were invited to Wolverhampton Art Gallery where they performed their poems, and the winners were announced.

Tai Bowen was recently selected to represent the English Karate Federation following his Commonwealth success

David Omorehionwan in Colton Hills Sixth Form won the highly commended for his age category and Rayana Itakhunov in Year 10, won the highly commended for her age category as well as the overall winner.

Olga Suta in Year 9, who was recently awarded Wolverhampton’s Young Poet Laureate, was present to perform her poem to everyone, while Poet Laureate, Kuli Kohli, also an ex-student of Colton Hills, was also invited to do a special reading of her Coronation poem.

Acting Headteacher, Stephen Blower, said: “Colton Hills has always prided itself on embracing our school’s diversity.

"The past week has been a celebration of many sporting accolades, as well as talent in the performing arts.

"We are very proud of our students and all their pursuits, in and out of school, and will continue to cheer them on from the sidelines.”

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