Damar Thomas: Britain’s next heavyweight hope is gunning for gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games | Boxing news

Britain’s heavyweight boxing scene flourishes. In Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma, Fabio Wardley and of course Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, the UK has world-class fighters in the professional ranks.

London’s Damar Thomas is looking to carry the torch through the amateur game. Still just 21 years old, a six-foot-six southpaw super-heavyweight, he could establish himself as a genuine Olympic contender if he wins some more international silverware.

Thomas will make his first bout in the Commonwealth Games boxing tournament on Wednesday as he targets the most high-profile medal of his career.

“It will be great to fight in Glasgow. I’m taking it as another competition,” Thomas said. Sky Sports. “It doesn’t matter how big it is, I’ll just take it as another competition and stick with it.

“It doesn’t matter how big the tournament is, I take everything very seriously,” he added.

“There’s going to be great competition. I have to be in the best shape I can be and do whatever I can to get the success I want, which is a gold medal.”

Thomas fell just short of securing himself a medal at the World Championships last year. He was facing Olympic legend Julio La Cruz, already a two-weight Olympic champion and five-time world gold medalist.

La Cruz was up in weight and despite Thomas’ strong start, the hyper-skilled veteran was able to outmaneuver the young Briton and pocket the decision.

Since then Thomas has been on a winning run, winning gold medals at the European Under-23 Championship and Strandza, another top caliber tournament.

“Since I boxed in La Cruz, I know what I could have done better, you take the positives with the bad. Since then I’ve worked on the things I did wrong and worked on the things I could have done better,” Thomas said.

Stoppages in the elite, evenly matched amateur boxing bouts are rare. But Thomas is fending off his opponents.

“I had three fights (at the European Under-23 Championship) and I stopped two guys. I stopped the guy in the second round final and then the first round in the quarter final,” Thomas noted.

At the Strandja tournament, often seen as a mini world championship, he defeated Brazil’s Joao Batista Gomes da Silva in one round en route to winning the entire event. A sign of how far he can go – “Up”.

“I was disappointed to lose in the quarterfinals of the World Championships,” Thomas said. “Since then I’ve come on in leaps and bounds, I’m going to prove it to everyone when they come and see me in Glasgow.

“Since then look at what I’ve done. Since the World Championships it looks like I’ve done it. So what I’m doing is definitely working and I want to continue it in Glasgow and get a gold medal.”

Strong start for England

Thomas’ England teammates got off to a strong start on day one of the Commonwealth Games on Friday, with all four of their boxers winning their bouts.

Alice TrowbridgeSon of three-weight world champion Duke McKenzie, Vanuatu defeated Rixen Nomlius at 55kg, who was pulled off by the referee after more than a minute.

Lorraine McKee At 54kg Kenya’s Amina outclassed Faki, albeit a lighter weight Lucy Kings-Wheatley Directed by Petronella Nokeno of Papua New Guinea.

Patrice MughalzaiA clubmate of Thomas’ on Powerday Hooks won his opening bout by unanimous decision over Ghanaian welterweight Abdul Waheed Omar.

England’s other top prospects have to be looked at to include rising flyweights Ruby WhiteBox those on Monday; London Welterweight Sacha Hickey and heavy weight Isaac Okoh, Both those and the Olympians will be in action on Tuesday Chantel Reid Who will box on Wednesday.

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