Image copyright JON SUPER Image caption Ajmal Faizy is currently ranked number 31 in Britain

British light-welterweight boxer Ajmal Faizy is dedicating his next fight - on World Refugee Day - to his adopted home country, which took him in aged 13.

The 20-year-old had to flee Afghanistan after being tortured by the Taliban, who had murdered his father.

"As it's Refugee Week I want to dedicate this fight to Britain, the country that offered me protection when my life was in danger," he said.

Faizy steps into the ring on 20 June in Manchester to face Danny Carter.

That was the city in which he arrived in 2009.

"Britain has been really good to me and now I want to give something back," said Faizy, who has won five of his seven professional fights.

He escaped Afghanistan after his mother sold part of the family farm to raise money for the flight.

The Taliban had threatened to kill him on their next visit to their homestead.

Image copyright JON SUPER Image caption Barry Higginson (right) has been behind Faizy's success

After being quizzed by immigration officials, he was given a place with a foster family in Darwen, Lancashire, and stumbled across boxing by accident.

Walking through the town one day, Faizy entered a boxing gym run by Barry Higginson, who took him under his wing and taught him the sport and also how to speak English.

He now lives with Higginson, who invited Faizy, also known as AJ or The Dream, into his own house when he had to leave his foster family, aged 18.

"My first few days in Britain were terrifying and I didn't know what would happen to me, but I got used to it and people like Barry have helped me make a home here," Faizy said.

"I want to win a British title. It would be my way of saying thank you to the people who have been there to help me all the way."

Refugee Week runs from Monday until Sunday.

Chairman Maurice Wren said: "With the world facing the greatest refugee crisis in recent memory, Refugee Week provides an important opportunity to celebrate and recognise the contribution refugees make to their adopted home and to reflect on the situation of those fleeing persecution."