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 garners most of the headlines, a new generation is stepping up in the amateur ranks, eager to carry the nation’s proud boxing tradition forward. Among these rising stars is London‑born Damar Thomas, a 21‑year‑old southpaw standing an imposing six feet six inches tall in the super‑heavyweight division.
Though still early in his career, Thomas has already begun to carve out a reputation as a serious Olympic prospect, especially if he can add further international titles to his growing résumé. This Wednesday marks Thomas’s debut in the Commonwealth Games boxing tournament, a competition he regards as the most significant medal opportunity of his amateur tenure. "Fighting in Glasgow will be fantastic.
I’m treating it like any other competition," he told Sky Sports. "The scale of the event doesn’t change my approach – I’m going to give it everything I’ve got and aim for the top podium spot." Thomas’s journey to this point has not been without setbacks. At last year’s World Championships he faced the legendary Cuban Julio La Cruz, a two‑weight Olympic champion and five‑time world gold medallist who had recently moved up in weight.
Despite a strong opening round, the seasoned Cuban out‑maneuvered the young Briton, securing a decision win and leaving Thomas just short of a guaranteed medal. The loss proved to be a catalyst. In the months that followed, Thomas embarked on a string of impressive victories, capturing gold at the European Under‑23 Championships and triumphing at the prestigious Strandja tournament in Bulgaria – an event often described as a miniature world championship due to its deep field of elite amateurs.
Reflecting on his experience against La Cruz, Thomas said, "That bout showed me exactly where I needed to improve. I took the positives and learned from the negatives. Since then I’ve refined the aspects that held me back and built on the strengths that helped me compete at that level." One of the hallmarks of Thomas’s recent performances has been his ability to stop opponents, a rarity in tightly contested amateur bouts where judges’ scores usually decide the outcome.
At the European Under‑23 Championships, he recorded two stoppages: a second‑round knockout in the final and a first‑round finish in the quarter‑finals. At Strandja, he dispatched Brazil’s João Batista Gomes da Silva in a single round before cruising to the tournament crown. Such decisive victories underscore his potential to dominate on the biggest stages.
Thomas remains determined to translate that momentum into Commonwealth gold. "I was devastated to exit the World Championships in the quarter‑finals," he admitted. "Since then I’ve made huge strides, and I’m ready to prove it in Glasgow.
I’ve shown what I can do, and now I want to back it up with a gold medal in front of a cheering crowd." England’s boxing squad entered the Commonwealth Games on a high note, with all four of its representatives winning their opening bouts on the first day. Ellis Trowbridge, son of three‑weight world champion Duke McKenzie, overwhelmed Vanuatu’s Ricksen Nomleas in a 55 kg match that ended after just over a minute when the referee stopped the contest. Lauren Mackie out‑scored Kenya’s Amina Faki in the 54 kg division, while lightweight Lucy Kings‑Wheatley handled Papua New Guinea’s Petronella Nokenoke with composure. Patris Mughalzai, a teammate of Thomas at the Powerday Hooks club, also secured a unanimous decision win over Ghanaian welterweight Abdul Wahid Omar, further bolstering England’s medal prospects.
Other English talents to keep an eye on include flyweight Ruby White, who will step into the ring on Monday, London welterweight Sacha Hickey and heavyweight Isaac Okoh, both slated to fight on Tuesday, and Olympian Chantelle Reid, who is scheduled for a Wednesday bout. The depth of the English contingent suggests a strong showing across multiple weight classes. For fans eager to follow the action beyond the Commonwealth Games, Sky Sports will broadcast a slate of exciting matchups, including Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas from New York, live on Sunday night.
Viewers can also stream Sky Sports content without a contract via the NOW platform. As the Commonwealth Games progress, all eyes will be on Damar Thomas and his quest for gold.
His blend of size, skill, and a growing knack for stoppages makes him a compelling contender, and his performance in Glasgow could well signal the arrival of Britain’s next heavyweight star on the global stage.