Muhammad Ali Zahid is a British-Pakistani boxer who comes from Rochdale, Greater Manchester. The 32-year-old has a unique story, with him being the first-ever boxer with type 1 diabetes to receive a professional boxing licence from the British Boxing Board of Control.
Initially, he was refused a licence due to his type 1 diabetes over safety concerns, but a long three-year battle saw the decision changed, and he was eventually given his licence to compete in professional matches.
Zahid had campaigned for many years to receive his licence, as he had to prove that it was safe for him to compete. There were concerns that checking his blood sugar levels in between rounds would be too disruptive for the fights, but the decision to stop him receiving a licence from the British Boxing Board of Control was overturned.
In 2018, the British South Asian boxer received his professional licence and was ready to compete. Upon receiving the good news, he said, “diabetes is a condition and not an illness in my eyes, a controllable condition. Anybody who has type 1 diabetes should not give up on their dreams.”
With Ali being the first British boxer to fight professionally with diabetes, he will be used as an inspiration by aspiring boxers who have the same condition as him, who want to reach the top of the fighting game.
He turned professional in 2015, but did not receive his licence until three years later. Prior to 2018, Zahid had won multiple boxing cups and championships, making him a serial winner in his early fighting career.
He has spoken openly about his diabetes and how people should not let it stop them from achieving their long-term goals, whether that is in or out of sport.
Nicknamed ‘The Diabetic Kid’, he last stepped into the ring in October 2025, winning against Inder Bassi, who was 15-1 before the fight. Zahid won the fight and saw his record stand at 16-0 at the end of the bout, as he prepares to take on Willy Gilheaney in his next fight next month. Following Zahid’s last win, he was crowned the WBC Asian Welterweight champion.
14 February is the date of Muhammad Ali Zahid vs Willy Gilheaney, with the venue for the fight being in Manchester, at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre. Gilheaney has had six fights, winning all of them, so both boxers go into next month’s bout undefeated. Willy Gilheaney, aged 29, has not yet fought outside of Wales, so his fight in Manchester will be the first in his career in England professionally.
The Welshman won his last fight in August 2025, defeating Carvell Crocker in the sixth round. Crocker was 8-0 prior to the fight, but he was handed his first loss of his career by the 29-year-old from Wales.
Ali Zahid is currently ranked 20th out of all British boxers on the boxrec.com website, which consists of 119 fighters. Out of over 2,700 fighters, the website ranks him as the 198th-best in the Welterweight division, across the world.
With a unique story, Zahid will have supporters from all around the world. He is an inspiration to younger generations of boxers who are in the sport, who have conditions that people may see as a challenge, but he fully embraces his diabetes and does not see it as a problem. He has used his platforms to speak openly about diabetes and campaigned to get his licence, and he is now flourishing in the professional boxing world.
