British-Iraqi kickboxing star Riyadh Al-Azzawi admits failing to insure his gold-wrapped Mercedes

British-Iraqi kickboxing star Riyadh Al-Azzawi has admitted failing to insure his gold-wrapped Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon – but stayed in Dubai instead of showing up to court. 

Al-Azzawi, 36, known as ‘the golden champion’, was the first ever Arab to win the world kickboxing title in 2008 – and now wears gold clothes, gold jewelry and owns two gold-wrapped cars. 

The sportsman pleaded guilty and faces an unlimited fine or up to eight points on his driving licence for driving the Mercedes without insurance around his home in Battersea last May.

His flashy lifestyle involves splitting his time between London and Dubai – where he stayed ‘living it up’ rather than attending Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court. 

British-Iraqi kickboxing star Riyadh Al-Azzawi has admitted failing to insure his gold-wrapped Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon

Al-Azzawi, 36, known as ‘the golden champion’, was the first ever Arab to win the world kickboxing title in 2008

Al-Azzawi was instead represented by his lawyer Alex Mincoff, according to The Sun. 

Mr Mincoff, defending, said: ‘He genuinely did believe he did have valid insurance’ on his car but it eventually turned out that this belief was ‘incorrect’ 

Al-Azzawi has owned the golden G7 Brabus model – worth around £150,000 – since 2017. 

The kickboxer also regularly posts pictures of his gold vinyl wrapped £200,000 Ferrari spider to his four million Instagram followers. 

He wrote on Instagram: ‘Gold is the taste of success and hard work.’

He captioned another picture of his two golden supercars with: ‘Gold medals are not made of gold only.

 The kickboxer also regularly posts pictures of his gold vinyl wrapped £200,000 Ferrari spider to his four million Instagram followers

The kickboxing champion owns two gold cars and wears gold clothes and jewelry as part of his flashy lifestyle

‘They’re made of sweat, determination and discipline.’

In one picture he was even sat on a golden throne.  

Al-Azzawi won his first gold medal in Iraq when he was just 15, before moving to London to pursue his career. 

He became the first ever Arab world kickboxing champion in 2008 with a record 34-0. 

He has a total of 51 kickboxing victories and now boasts an extravagant gold-themed lifestyle.  

The case is set to resume at a special reasons hearing next month.