Anthony Small, 36, has been charged with encouraging acts of terrorism, the Metropolitan Police said

British boxing champion turned Muslim convert Anthony Small has been charged with encouraging acts of terrorism.

A Scotland Yard statement explained: 'A 36-year-old man from south-east London is to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday January 24 charged with a terrorism offence.

'Anthony Small was charged with encouraging acts of terrorism under section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 in connection with a video posted on social media in September 2016.

'It follows an investigation by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.'

Small reached the height of his fighting career in 2009 when he became British and Commonwealth champion, but quit the ring in 2010 because it clashed with his religious beliefs.

He turned professional in his early 20s under the alias Sugar Ray Clay Jones Jr.

Former British and Commonwealth boxing champion Small, who is also known as Abdul Haqq, starred in the BBC reality TV series, Muslims Like US, in 2016.

Mr Small is an active YouTube user and regularly uploads videos where he gives his opinion on world events. Left: Small in the ring in 2010. Right: Promoting a fight in the same year

In the documentary, he said that men and women should live separately and chastised women for not dressing modestly enough.

He has previously been accused of supporting ISIS.

A jury found him not guilty of plotting to fight with the extremist group in Syria in 2015.

Small is an active YouTube user and regularly uploads videos where he gives his opinion on world events.

He converted to Islam when he was 24 and marched against the war in Afghanistan.

He previously explained: ‘I cannot be a Muslim and a boxer who makes money from a sport that promotes the evils of alcohol, gambling and free mixing of men and women.’

Former British and Commonwealth boxing champion Small, who is also known as Abdul Haqq, starred in the BBC reality TV series, Muslims Like US in 2016 (pictured)

Small won his titles in 2009 after beating Matthew Hall at the MEN arena in Manchester.

He then went on to defend his titles in the same year against Thomas McDonagh in Wigan.

But he was beaten in 2010 by Sam Webb in Dagenham, London.