Ugandan boxer Aziz Abdul disqualified for headbutt at Commonwealth Games

Image caption: Abdul (centre) was disqualified early in the third round against Thomas (right)

By Matthew Henry BBC Sport Journalist in Glasgow

Ugandan boxer Aziz Abdul — the grandson of dictator Idi Amin — was disqualified from his Commonwealth Games fight after appearing to headbutt his English opponent.

The 25-year-old was penalised after lifting his head into Damar Thomas' chin as the pair grappled in the third round.

Abdul later claimed the judges were against him because he is a "black African."

"When you watch the previous fights of England their boxers create a lot of fouls. I land a heavy punch on him, they never count. Instead of counting they deduct me. I am black African. He is in homeland."

Background

Before the super-heavyweight bout, Abdul told the BBC he wanted to become the new "King of Scotland" — a reference to Amin declaring himself that title in 1976.

After taking power in a coup in 1971, Amin ran a brutal regime during which an estimated half a million people were killed. He was also known as the Butcher of Uganda.

Abdul, who never met his grandfather, was chasing Uganda's first Commonwealth boxing medal since Auckland in 1990 — something that would have been guaranteed had he beaten Thomas.

Instead, he received warnings in the previous two rounds and was trailing on all of the judges' scorecards.

"All I can say about this is the decision is not right, I am not happy. He elbowed me. He caught me with the elbow. It [the head movement] was not intentional. I was trying to come back. How can I headbutt someone? I would not. He was the person they wanted to win. He was the winner before. I knew if I did not get knockout I could not win the fight."

BBC Sport has contacted Commonwealth Games organisers and World Boxing for a response to Abdul's comments.

Thomas Reacts

Thomas, who is now guaranteed at least a bronze medal, said it was "not the way" he wanted to win.

"I can't change what happened today but I can control how I box on Friday."

Amin's Legacy

Amin, himself a boxer, harboured a fascination with Scotland after serving in the King's African Rifles in his 20s. At the height of his regime, he was fond of wearing a kilt and playing the bagpipes — and even declared himself "King of Scotland" in 1976.

Those predilections later spawned an Oscar-winning film, The Last King of Scotland, starring Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy.

In a previous interview, Abdul said he was "inspired" by Amin, although it was not entirely clear whether he was referring to his boxing feats. Speaking to the BBC, he refused to answer when asked if he was proud to be the dictator's grandson, but he did address the question of how he feels when linked to someone with such a sinister reputation.

Related Topics

• Commonwealth Games
• Boxing

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