Mensah Bediako in On The Ropes. Photo: Steve Gregson

HE fought opponents in the ring, but for former British boxer Vernon Vanriel, it was his bout with the British government that was his most brutal contest of all.

Arriving in Britain from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation when he was six, Vernon had trained to be an electrician but with such talent in the ring, boxing was his destiny.

Known for his flamboyant style, he rose to prominence as a lightweight boxer in the 70s and 80s and fought in front of thousands at the Royal Albert Hall.

He was also one of first to recognise the appeal of having music at fights and would strut to the ring, his favourite tracks blaring.

Fans nicknamed him the “Tottenham Tornado”. “The Entertainer” was emblazoned across his robe. He was certainly that: appealing to black and white audiences alike.

As he rose through the ranks – he became Britain’s number two in 1982 – he also used his influence on other aspects of the sport.

He put pressure on organisers to reduce ticket prices so all could watch him in the ring.

And in an interview he spoke of the exploitation in boxing at the hands of a “white cartel”.

After that, he says he was blocked from fighting for the British title he so craved.

With his boxing career over, Tottenham-based Vernon sank into depression and drug addiction.

But it was his decision to go to Jamaica in 2005 to try and sort himself out that would very nearly be his undoing.

After two years spent there, he decided to return to London.

However, because he didn’t have a British passport and had spent two or more continuous years outside the UK his indefinite leave to remain was no longer valid.

The real Vernon Vanriel. Photo: Sean Anthony

He was refused re-entry to the UK and was effectively stateless. Despite having a Jamaican passport he did not qualify for benefits or healthcare there.

And so began an agonising 13 years in which Vernon was destitute and homeless in Jamaica, living in poverty on the streets and suffering ill health.

His family in the UK rallied around. When his MP David Lammy took up his case and Vernon was featured in The Guardian he was finally able to return to the UK in 2018.

But his fight did not end there.

Despite calling the UK home for 43 years, his application for British citizenship was refused.

The government had introduced a new requirement that people had to have been in the UK five years to the day before they made the application for citizenship.

This was of course impossible for Vernon as he had been locked out of the UK unlawfully.

So he took the British Government to the high court. And won. The judge found that the Government had illegally denied him his right to British citizenship.

Now, On The Ropes, a play written by Vernon with Dougie Blaxland tells this extraordinary story.

Music features heavily, with classics such as Young, Gifted and Black; Something Inside So Strong; and Jimmy Cliff’s Wonderful World, Beautiful People, sung by the cast.

Director Anastasia Osei-Kuffour told Review: “We came up with the idea of staging the play in the round because it feels like the fight and the metaphor of a boxing match is very representative of Vernon’s life.”

Vernon says writing the play has helped him get back the self-worth that was “stolen from me by the Home Office in 2005”.

He adds: “On The Ropes is not just about Vernon Vanriel – nor even about the other 57,000 people affected by the Windrush scandal – it is a story about, and for, everyone who has had – or ever will have – their rights and their freedom denied by arbitrary acts of injustice.”

• On The Ropes is at Park Theatre, Finsbury Park, until February 4. For more information call 0207 870 6876.