Idi Amin’s grandson, 25-year-old super-heavyweight boxer Aziz Abdul, was disqualified in the third round against England’s Damar Thomas at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after repeatedly head-butting his opponent and launching a bitter verbal tirade at the referee.
The Commonwealth Games debut of the man known as Aziz Ringo ended in ignominy and disgrace at the Scottish Exhibition Centre. Trailing 20-16 on the judges’ scorecards in the 90+kg quarter-final, Abdul’s frustration boiled over. He was penalised three times for fouls, receiving his final warning midway through the third and final round when he flicked up his head to butt Thomas, prompting boos from the crowd.
Thomas advances to the semi-finals, securing at least a bronze medal. I got the job done, not how I wanted to, but the job is done,
Thomas said, noting that his opponent was running at him with his head amidst some ring rust.
Family Lineage and the King of Scotland
Ambition
Abdul arrived in Glasgow bearing one of the most infamous surnames in modern history. His grandfather was Idi Amin, the military dictator who seized power in a 1971 coup and ruled Uganda for eight years. Amin’s brutal regime is estimated to have killed half a million people and expelled the country’s entire Asian population before he was deposed and sent into exile.
Yet Abdul embraced the lineage in the build-up to the tournament. Amin had developed a fascination with Scotland during his service in the King’s African Rifles in his twenties, eventually declaring himself King of Scotland
in 1976 while fond of wearing kilts and playing the bagpipes—a persona later immortalized in the Oscar-winning film The Last King Of Scotland.
Abdul echoed those eccentric historical ambitions upon arriving in Scotland. In everything we do, God knows tomorrow,
Abdul told BBC Sport Scotland. It’s God’s plan. I might be the new King of Scotland. It’s possible.
“My grandfather’s achievements inspired me. He was a heavyweight boxer like myself, and I am so proud of him.”
Aziz Abdul, via sports.yahoo.com
A Chaotic Bout and Angry Fallout in the Mixed Zone
The fight itself was a wild affair featuring heavy haymakers. Despite a reach disadvantage of at least five inches against the 21-year-old European youth champion from Kilburn, Abdul landed three sweeping left hooks in the opening round. However, a short, stabbing left from Thomas earned Abdul a standing count, and Thomas won the first round 10-8 across all three judges’ cards.
Frustrations mounted in the second round as Abdul was wrapped up in Thomas’s longer reach and deducted a point for punching on the break. When the disqualification finally arrived in the third, Abdul turned his anger toward the officiating crew and reporters.
Refusing to speak to a journalist from the Press Association because of prior coverage of his grandfather, Abdul unleashed a sharp critique of the match administration.
“There were a lot of fouls. Holding, elbowing, a lot of bullshit. The officials cannot judge them. When other countries do this they are disqualified. All I can say about this is the referee’s decision is not right and I am not happy.”
Aziz Abdul, via The Guardian
Abdul also claimed bias, telling aol.com that I am a black African, I know. I don’t know why the officials are scared about this fight.
Future Threats and Historical Parallels
The disqualification leaves Uganda waiting longer for its first Commonwealth boxing medal since Auckland in 1990. Before stepping into the ring, Abdul had pointed to his grandfather’s boxing background—Amin held the Ugandan light-heavyweight title for nine consecutive years and once staged a presidential rematch against rival Peter Sseruwagi while wearing a suit jacket—as well as drawing motivation from Mike Tyson, whom he described as his idol.
Unrepentant after his exit, Abdul vowed that his rivalry with Thomas is far from finished.
“Next time, I will get him. Anytime in the future. Two years, five years, 10 years. I will show him that Aziz Ringo is a real warrior. It’s so painful.”
Aziz Abdul, via The Independent
He remains determined to return to the ring and prove his strength in a future rematch to finally overcome his rival.
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