Ugandan super-heavyweight boxer Aziz Abdul, grandson of former Ugandan leader Idi Amin, was disqualified in a contentious quarter-final match at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The 25-year-old was competing against England’s Damar Thomas when the referee stopped the fight in the third round after Abdul made head contact with Thomas’ chin during a clinch. This led to Abdul's immediate disqualification, handing victory to the English fighter and ending Uganda’s bid for its first boxing medal at the Games since 1990.
Prior to the bout, Abdul confidently declared his ambition to become the new "King of Scotland," referencing a title his grandfather famously claimed in 1976. However, throughout the fight, Abdul trailed on all judges' scorecards with a 20-16 deficit before the incident occurred.
Following the disqualification, Abdul and his corner expressed frustration, arguing the head clash was unintentional and that the officiating was unfair. Abdul claimed he was attempting to regain control of the fight and accused his opponent of using elbows during the match.
He also suggested that competing on English soil may have influenced the outcome, stating, "He was the person they wanted to win. He was the winner before the fight even started."
For Thomas, the win marked his first Commonwealth Games victory and kept his medal hopes alive.
Legacy and Controversy
Aziz Abdul carries a significant historical legacy as the grandson of Idi Amin, Uganda’s military ruler from 1971 to 1979, whose regime was marked by human rights abuses and thousands of deaths. Despite this, Abdul has sought to establish his own identity through boxing and has stated he never met his grandfather.
Instead of a podium finish, Abdul left the ring visibly upset by the referee’s decision, convinced that the call denied him a fair chance to compete for a medal.
