Britain’s heavyweight boxing landscape is flourishing, boasting a roster that includes the likes of Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma, Fabio Wardley, as well as household names such as Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. While the professional circuit thrives, the amateur scene is also producing promising talent, and 21‑year‑old Damar Thomas from London is poised to become the next torch‑bearer for British boxing. Standing at an imposing six‑foot‑six and fighting as a left‑handed super‑heavyweight, Thomas has already begun to make a name for himself on the international stage. After a series of strong performances, he now sets his sights on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he hopes to secure the most prestigious medal of his young career – the gold.
"It’ll be fantastic to fight in Glasgow. I’m treating it like any other competition," Thomas told Sky Sports. "The size of the event doesn’t change my approach – I’ll go in, give everything I’ve got, and fight hard." He added, "The competition will be fierce, so I need to be in peak condition and do whatever it takes to achieve the result I want – the gold medal." Thomas narrowly missed out on a podium finish at last year’s World Championships, where he faced the legendary Cuban Julio La Cruz.
La Cruz, a two‑weight Olympic champion and five‑time world champion, had moved up a division and, despite Thomas’s strong start, used his experience and tactical acumen to outmaneuver the British boxer and win a decision. Since that defeat, Thomas has embarked on an impressive winning streak. He captured gold at the European Under‑23 Championships, where he recorded two stoppages – a first‑round knockout in the quarter‑finals and a second‑round finish in the final. He followed that up with another gold at the prestigious Strandja tournament in Bulgaria, often described as a “mini‑World Championships.” In that event, Thomas dispatched Brazil’s João Batista Gomes da Silva in the opening round, then continued his dominant run to claim the title.
Reflecting on his loss to La Cruz, Thomas said, "After that bout I understood what I needed to improve. I took the positives and the negatives, worked on my shortcomings and built on the things that went well. The progress I’ve made since then shows the work is paying off." Stopping opponents is a rarity in elite amateur boxing, where bouts are usually decided on points. Thomas’s ability to finish fights early highlights his power and timing, qualities that make him a serious contender for gold in Glasgow.
"I had three fights at the European Under‑23s and stopped two of them. I knocked out the finalist in the second round and the quarter‑finalist in the first," he recalled.
"At Strandja I ended the Brazilian’s campaign in one round, which helped me win the whole tournament." Thomas’s disappointment at the World Championships has become a driving force. "I was devastated to lose in the quarter‑finals, but since then I’ve made huge strides.
I’m going to prove my growth when I step into the ring in Glasgow," he affirmed. The English squad entered the Commonwealth Games strongly, with all four of its boxers winning their opening bouts on the first day. Ellis Trowbridge, son of three‑weight world champion Duke McKenzie, overwhelmed Vanuatu’s Ricksen Nomleas in the 55 kg division, the referee stopping the fight after barely a minute. Lauren Mackie out‑scored Kenya’s Amina Faki at 54 kg, while lightweight Lucy Kings‑Wheatley comfortably dealt with Papua New Guinea’s Petronella Nokenoke.
Patris Mughalzai, a teammate of Thomas at the Powerday Hooks club, secured a unanimous decision over Ghanaian welterweight Abdul Wahid Omar. Other English prospects to watch include rising flyweight Ruby White, who fights on Monday; London welterweight Sacha Hickey and heavyweight Isaac Okoh, both slated for Tuesday; and Olympian Chantelle Reid, who will compete on Wednesday.
Thomas’s journey illustrates the depth of British boxing talent beyond the professional ranks. With a blend of size, skill, and a growing track record of decisive victories, he embodies the next generation of heavyweight hope for the nation. If he can translate his recent successes into a gold‑medal performance in Glasgow, he will not only cement his own reputation but also signal a bright future for British amateurs on the world stage. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options available via NOW, and keep up with related events such as Edgar Berlanga vs.
Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins vs. Ricardo Salas, which will be broadcast from New York on Sunday at 10 pm.