Britain’s heavyweight boxing landscape is flourishing, boasting a roster that includes the likes of Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma, Fabio Wardley, and the legendary figures of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. While the professional scene thrives, the amateur ranks are also producing promising talent, and one name that stands out is London’s own Damar Thomas. At just 21 years old, the six‑foot‑six south‑paw super‑heavyweight is positioning himself as a serious Olympic hopeful, provided he can add more international medals to his growing résumé.
Thomas’s first appearance in the Commonwealth Games boxing tournament is set for Wednesday, and he has made it clear that he views the event as a pivotal step toward the most coveted prize of his amateur career – a gold medal. "It’s going to be great to fight in Glasgow.
I’m taking it as another competition," he told Sky Sports. "It doesn’t matter how big the tournament is; I treat every bout with the same seriousness and I’m ready to give it my all." The young Briton knows the level of competition he will face. Last year, at the World Championships, Thomas fell just short of securing a medal after a hard‑fought encounter with Olympic legend Julio La Cruz – a two‑weight Olympic champion and five‑time World gold medallist who had recently moved up in weight.
Although Thomas started strongly, La Cruz’s experience and tactical savvy ultimately earned him the decision. Thomas reflected on the loss, saying, "Since I boxed La Cruz, I know what I could have done better. You take the positives with the negatives, and I’ve been working on both the things I did right and the areas where I need improvement." Since that disappointment, Thomas has embarked on an impressive winning streak. He captured gold at the European Under‑23 Championships, where he stopped two opponents en route to the title – a first‑round knockout in the quarter‑finals and a second‑round stoppage in the final.
He continued his momentum at the prestigious Strandja tournament, often described as a mini‑World Championships, by dispatching Brazil’s Joao Batista Gomes Da Silva in a single round and ultimately taking the overall crown. These performances demonstrate his growing ability to finish fights, a rare trait in elite amateur boxing where bouts are typically decided on points. "I was gutted that I lost in the quarter‑finals of the World Championships," Thomas admitted. "Since then I’ve made huge leaps forward.
I’m going to prove it to everyone when they watch me in Glasgow. The work I’ve put in is paying off, and I’m aiming for gold." Thomas’s teammates from England also got off to an encouraging start on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games. Ellis Trowbridge, son of three‑weight world champion Duke McKenzie, quickly dispatched Vanuatu’s Ricksen Nomleas in the 55 kg division.
Lauren Mackie out‑scored Kenya’s Amina Faki at 54 kg, while lightweight Lucy Kings‑Wheatley handled Papua New Guinea’s Petronella Nokenoke. Patris Mughalzai, a fellow member of the Powerday Hooks club, secured a unanimous decision over Ghanaian welterweight Abdul Wahid Omar.
Other English prospects to keep an eye on 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 step into the ring on Wednesday. Beyond the Commonwealth Games, the broader boxing calendar remains packed. Fans can tune in to watch Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas live from New York on Sky Sports, with streaming options available on NOW without a contract. As Thomas prepares for Glasgow, his goal is crystal clear: to translate the confidence gained from his recent victories into a gold‑medal performance on one of the sport’s biggest amateur stages.
With his size, south‑paw stance, and a growing knack for stoppages, he possesses the tools to challenge the continent’s best. If he can maintain his current form, stay disciplined in training, and keep refining the lessons learned from his loss to La Cruz, the 21‑year‑old could very well become Britain’s next heavyweight star and a serious contender for Olympic glory in the years ahead.