Mohammed Faisal, the USA-based boxer has joined the anti-bullying campaign initiated by the World Boxing Council. In his efforts to spread awareness among school kids, Faisal - popularly known as Fes Batista - reached out to the students of the Russell Hall Primary School in Bradford, United Kingdom.
The Huddersfield-born boxer, who represents legendary Roy Jones Jr's company Square Ring Promotions, said: "Bullying should be eliminated. It should have no place in our society. Schools are one place where the movement against bullying should begin."
"Russell Hall Primary is a multi-cultural school and kids from Indian and Pakistani background also study here," Batista said. "It is a huge problem today and one just can't imagine the stress bullying causes to young minds. It must stop."
"Parents, schools, children and all need to come together for this," Batista said.
Tracing his roots to India, Faisal said: "My parents were from Kashmir. I have also seen ups and downs in life and hence this campaign is very important to me."
"I don't want any other kid to face what I have faced. I want to spread this message against bullying across the world."
Asked if he sees boxing as a good prospect for kids in India, he said: "Of course it has a good prospect. I see Vijender [Singh] is doing very well. It makes me proud to see him doing so well."
So, is a Vijender Singh vs Fes Batista match on the cards?
"I would love to fight him down the line. He is a super middleweight and I am a big super welterweight. I have spoken to Roy Jones about this fight and he thinks it would make sense in the future.
As of now, Fes is keen on spreading the anti-bullying campaign. Bullying is a grave issue in schools in UK and a growing concern worldwide.
