Aziz Abdul, the 25-year-old grandson of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, was disqualified from the super-heavyweight boxing quarterfinals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, after headbutting his English opponent Damar Thomas during the third round of the 90+kg bout. The incident has sparked controversy, with Abdul alleging the judges were biased against him because of his race.
Disqualification and Immediate Aftermath
Referees stopped the fight in the third round and disqualified Abdul for what they deemed an intentional headbutt. Thomas, who had been boxing in his home nation (Scotland is part of the United Kingdom), was awarded the victory and is guaranteed at least a bronze medal. The decision left Abdul visibly frustrated and vocal in his criticism of the officiating.
Athlete's Claims of Bias
Abdul insisted the headbutt was accidental. "It [the head movement] was not intentional. I was trying to come back," he told reporters. "How can I headbutt someone? I would not." He further alleged that the judges were against him from the start, stating, "When you watch the previous fights of England, their boxers create a lot of fouls. I land a heavy punch on him, they never count. Instead of counting they deduct me. I am black African. He is in homeland."
Context of the Bout and Family Legacy
Before the match, Abdul had made headlines by declaring his ambition to become the new 'King of Scotland,' a reference to his grandfather Idi Amin's self-proclaimed title in 1976. Amin, who seized power in a 1971 coup, ruled Uganda with an iron fist, overseeing the deaths of an estimated half a million people during his brutal regime, earning him the moniker "Butcher of Uganda." Abdul, who never met his grandfather, was competing for Uganda's first Commonwealth boxing medal since Auckland in 1990. A win would have guaranteed at least a bronze, but the disqualification ended those hopes.
Opponent's Reaction
Damar Thomas expressed regret over the manner of his victory. "I can't change what happened today but I can control how I box on Friday," he said, noting that he had not wanted to win via disqualification. Thomas is now set to compete in the semifinals, with his eyes on a gold medal.
