Tributes paid to teenage boxer Ali Tazeem dubbed 'next Amir Khan' after fatal crash near Birmingham

Tributes have been paid today by the father of teenage Black Country boxer who died following a car crash near Birmingham.

Ali Tazeem, 18, was dubbed 'the next Amir Khan' and the boxing world is in mourning following his death.

The Wolverhampton born athlete was part of Walsall's Pound 4 Pound Boxing Academy and spent the past week training with Floyd Mayweather Senior. He was tipped as a one to watch, winning 15 international gold medals.

His dad Toheed Tazeem, who is known as Dr Tee, said he and his family have been left 'absolutely devastated' by Ali's death.

Dr Tee, who is the head coach at Pound 4 Pound Boxing Academy in Walsall, said: "He was a wonderful, loving, caring, well-mannered, talented kid. He was very devoted to his religion as well, being a Muslim.

"He was just an all-round good kid, he was too good to be true. He had friends of every colour."Kids loved him in the gym - when he walked in a room, he would light it up. He was just like an angel. It is hard to describe, he was a special, special kid."He had everything about him. His heart was in the right place. He was caring, loving. He loved everybody, he was such a beautiful soul."

Sam Jones, Head Of Talent Relations at Probellum, which signed Ali Tazeem, tweeted that he was struggling to process what had happened.

Tazeem had met Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan, who said: "He will be the next me and make history".

Boxing promotors were quick to pick up on the youngster's talent, lightening quick reflexes and defensive capabilities.

His record as an amateur includes 45 successes and he had won medals at events including the Monkstown Box Cup.

"He was a superstar in the ring"

Sam Jones said:

"Sometimes when you work in boxing you know who is special, and Ali had something about him.

He was a funny kid, lots of banter and ultimately he was a superstar in the ring".

The death comes as police appeal for information over a fatal crash in Wolverhampton.

West Midlands Police say an 18-year-old man has died after a car hit a wall in Wolverhampton in the early hours of the morning.

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ITV News Central has asked whether the crash is related to Mr Tazeem's death.

West Midlands Police declined to release further information about the crash and it is not clear whether the incidents are connected.

A teen was killed and the car's driver was seriously injured in the crash in Chapel Ash on Sunday, 17 April.

Police are appealing for dashcam footage following the fatal crash off Merridale Road, near the junction of Oaks Drive, at around 1.45am. The 18-year-old passenger was confirmed dead at the scene and driver, also 18, was taken to hospital in a critical condition, police said. "Our thoughts are with their loved ones and we'll be offering them support at this terrible time," West Midlands Police said in a statement. "A cordon remains in place while officers from our serious collision investigation unit carry out enquiries to establish exactly what happened. "We'd ask people not to speculate at this stage but for anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible. "We're keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and saw the red Vauxhall Corsa. We're particularly keen to secure any dashcam footage."Anyone with information is being urged to contact investigators via Live Chat on the West Midlands Police website and quote log 295 of 17 April.