A former boxing world champion has come out in favour of same-sex civil unions and adoptions in Poland.

Dariusz Michalczewsk, nicknamed Tiger, is a Polish-German boxer who was formerly a WBO light-heavyweight champion, before retiring from the sport in 2005.

The 46-year-old has spoken out in favour of gay rights in the conservative country, which lags behind most of Western Europe on legal provisions for LGBT people.

He posed with a sign for KPH (Campaign Against Homophobia) which read: “I am an ally of LGBT people, because I want to live in a country where my gay friends are not discriminated against.

According to the New York Times, he said: “What if your daughter were a lesbian? What if your son were gay? If it were my child, I would love him very much. And I would support him in everything, because he’d be my child!”

Explaining his reasons for taking part in the campaign, he said: “I do not judge people because of their sexual orientation.

“Two young men live near me. They are smiling, friendly, accommodating. We all like them. And then someone noticed that they kiss. My neighbours began to hate them.

“Did they change? No. They are still those same valuable people.

“You have to treat them differently because they are gay? This [treatment] is sick! It prompted me to participate in this campaign.”

Currently same-sex couples are banned from adopting in Poland, same-sex marriage is illegal, and there is no legal recognition for same-sex relationships.