Ugandan super-heavyweight boxer Aziz Abdul was disqualified in the third round of his Commonwealth Games quarter-final match in Glasgow after headbutting England's Damar Thomas during a clinch.
The 25-year-old fighter, who is the grandson of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, was trailing on all judges' scorecards before the stoppage.
The referee halted the bout after Abdul repeatedly drove his head into Thomas's chin, following earlier point deductions for punching on the break.
The decision automatically propelled Thomas into the semi-finals of the 90kg+ super-heavyweight division, guaranteeing him at least a bronze medal, while denying Uganda its first Commonwealth boxing medal since 1990.
Abdul's Reaction
Following the fight, Abdul expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating, accusing the referee of unfair bias during the match.
"When you watch the previous fights of England their boxers create a lot of fouls," Abdul said. "I land a heavy punch on him, they never count.
Instead of counting they deduct me. I am black African.
He is in homeland."
He further denied that the physical contact was deliberate, maintaining that he was attempting a comeback late in the fight.
"All I can say about this is the decision is not right, I am not happy," Abdul said.
"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."
Abdul also expressed frustration over the warnings issued to him in contrast to the scoring system applied throughout the bout.
"There were a lot of fouls," Abdul said. "Holding, elbowing, a lot of bullshit.
The officials cannot judge them. When other countries do this they are disqualified.
All I can say about this is the referee's decision is not right and I am not happy."
He argued that the officials acted prematurely when penalizing his aggression against his English opponent.
"He took a light punch and they counted," Abdul said. "I landed a heavy punch on him and they deducted my points and warned me.
I'm a black African, I know. It's God's plan.
I don't know why the officials are scared about this fight. Why can't they let this fight continue?"
Abdul stated that he remained determined to avenge the loss in future competitive outings.
"He got me with the elbow," Abdul said. "It was not intentional because I was trying to come back.
How can I head-butt someone? I would not head-butt someone.
When I was still in Uganda, I said I must win by knockout. It's an away match for me here.
Next time I must end the fight in the first minute."
He reiterated his intentions to face Thomas again in upcoming international competitions.
"Next time, I will get him," Abdul said. "Anytime in the future.
Two years, five years, 10 years. I will show him that Aziz Ringo is a real warrior.
It's so painful."
Abdul reiterated his disappointment with the referee's officiating standard during the international tournament.
"There were a lot of fouls," Abdul said. "This referee's decision is not right and I am not happy.
Of course it's unfair.
When you watch the previous fights of England, their boxers create a lot of fouls and they play a lot of bull----.
I am a black African, I know. I don't [know] why the officials are scared about this fight."
Pre-Fight Confidence
Prior to the match, Abdul had expressed confidence in his preparation and referenced his personal motivations.
"In everything we do, God knows tomorrow," Abdul said. "It's God's plan.
I might be the new King of Scotland. It's possible.
When I arrived, I put up the flag, 'cause I like Scotland so much."
He emphasized his goal of securing a medal for Uganda before entering the ring.
"Our first medal will be won tomorrow. No excuse," Abdul said.
"That's why I'm here. I have that dream that I'm gonna go back with gold medal.
That's the reason I'm here in Glasgow right now. I want to do something for my country.
I think the day is tomorrow for them to recognise me and for the world to recognise me.
I want to be known as the Ringo the boxer."
Abdul spoke about his boxing career and his desire to follow in the athletic footsteps of his grandfather.
"Nobody knows what is going to happen. As Mike Tyson said, 'Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.'
Anything can happen in heavyweight boxing. My grandfather's [boxing] achievements inspired me.
He was a heavyweight boxer like me, and I am so proud of him. I believe in myself and I mean what I say.
Let them not doubt me. I am aiming for the gold medal.
My idol is Mike Tyson.
If I win the gold medal, I will be the baddest man in the Commonwealth, the baddest man in Glasgow, and the new King of Scotland."
When questioned about his family background and the historical actions associated with his grandfather, Abdul declined to comment in detail.
"Sometimes people say positive about him, but others say negative about him," Abdul explained. "That's why I don't want to talk more about him.
It's not good to say something negative about someone who is not there, and it's not good to say something about someone negative who was not there by the time when the incident happened, if it happened."
Thomas's Reaction
Thomas reflected on the outcome of the fight, acknowledging the unusual nature of his victory.
"I can't change what happened today but I can control how I box on Friday," Thomas said.
The English boxer added that while the fight lacked technical precision, his primary objective was met.
"I got the job done, not how I wanted to, but the job is done," Thomas said. "He was running at me with his head.
There was a bit of ring rust from me but it is what it is."
