Aziz Abdul, a 25-year-old boxer competing in the super-heavyweight division at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has made a controversial declaration, linking his ambitions in the ring to the legacy of his grandfather, Idi Amin, the former Ugandan president. Ahead of his quarter-final bout against England’s Damar Thomas, Abdul invoked Amin’s memory and proclaimed his intention to become the “new King of Scotland.”
Abdul, who fights under the nickname Aziz Ringo in reference to his signature punch, said he draws inspiration from his grandfather, who was also a former light-heavyweight boxing champion before seizing power in Uganda through a 1971 coup. Amin’s regime was marked by widespread atrocities, including the deaths of an estimated 300,000 people and the expulsion of approximately 80,000 Asian Ugandans. Amin died in exile in Saudi Arabia when Abdul was two years old.
While Amin styled himself with grandiose titles such as “Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular,” he also displayed a personal affinity for boxing. Notably, during his rule, Amin once challenged Uganda’s national boxing coach to a match and advised fighters to aim for knockouts to avoid being robbed by white judges. Abdul echoed this philosophy as he prepared for his bout, emphasizing the importance of winning by knockout in the European arena.
Opposing Abdul is Damar Thomas, 21, who has the backing of former world champion James DeGale. Thomas, the 2022 European youth champion, has recovered from a significant injury involving bone removal from his hand and hip and aims to continue the legacy of English boxing champions such as Delicious Orie, Frazer Clarke, and Joe Joyce.
The super-heavyweight category, which began at the quarter-final stage, has drawn some attention to its reduced number of competitors, a situation reminiscent of the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh when an apartheid-era boycott led to only two entrants in the same category. Despite a smaller field, the competition remains keenly contested.
Elsewhere, Ghana’s Amadu Mohammed secured a win over Ellis Trowbridge, son of former three-weight world champion Duke McKenzie, guaranteeing a bronze medal in the 55kg category. Namibian boxer Tryagain Morning Ndevelo also competed, sharing the personal significance of his unique name, given by his mother as a daily reminder to strive harder.
As the boxing events progress, Abdul’s bold fusion of sporting ambition and his grandfather’s contentious legacy adds an unusual narrative to the Games, highlighting the complex intersections of personal history and athletic competition on this international stage.