Aziz Abdul, the 25‑year‑old grandson of former Ugandan president Idi Amin, was disqualified in the third round of his opening super‑heavyweight bout against England’s Damar Thomas at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
What happened in the ring
Abdul, who had declared an intention to become “the new king of Scotland” in the build‑up to the Games, was penalised three times for fouls during the contest and was thrown out midway through the third and final round after delivering a headbutt. The decision handed Thomas progression in the tournament and guarantees the England boxer a medal.
The judges scored the opening round decisively for Thomas, with all three cards reading 10‑8 in his favour after a standing count was given to Abdul following a short left by Thomas. Officials took further action after subsequent fouls, culminating in the disqualification.
“There were a lot of fouls,” insisted Aziz, who also berated reporters in the mixed zone. “This referee’s decision is not right and I am not happy. ... Of course it’s unfair. When you watch the previous fights of England, their boxers create a lot of fouls and they play a lot of bull****. I am a black African, I know. I don’t why the officials are scared about this fight.”
Background and wider context
Abdul had referenced his famous grandfather in the run‑up, invoking Amin’s view that “the only way to defeat an enemy who is against the country is to win by knockout.” Amin, who boxed before entering politics and later ruled Uganda from 1971 to 1979, remains a controversial historical figure. During his rule an estimated 500,000 people are said to have been killed and he ordered the expulsion of the country’s Asian population. Amin also famously declared himself the “King of Scotland” in 1976, an episode that inspired the Oscar‑winning film The Last King of Scotland.
Immediate aftermath and local impact
Abdul left the ring visibly furious, confronting officials and members of the press. His removal ends his bid at these Games; Thomas moves on to the next stage with a guaranteed medal for England.
- Competitors: Aziz Abdul (25) vs Damar Thomas (England)
- Result: Abdul disqualified in the third round for repeated fouls, including a headbutt
- Key scoring: First round awarded to Thomas 10‑8 on all three judges’ cards
| Round | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas scores with a short left; standing count for Abdul; judges 10‑8 to Thomas |
| 3 | Abdul penalised multiple times; disqualified for headbutt |
For local readers following the Commonwealth Games, this result ends one high‑profile storyline early and highlights how disciplinary decisions can determine outcomes in tournament boxing. Officials at multi‑nation events are required to enforce the rules strictly to protect boxer safety and ensure fair competition; in this instance the referee judged Abdul’s fouls to have crossed the threshold for disqualification.
Further detail on any appeal or disciplinary follow‑up will be reported as it becomes available from Commonwealth Games authorities and the respective national boxing associations.
