British super-heavyweight boxer Damar Thomas won Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow after defeating India's Narender Berwal by unanimous decision in the final.
The 21-year-old fighter, who stands 6ft 6in tall, brushed off comparisons to former world champion Anthony Joshua as he pledged to focus on his own development ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Thomas produced a disciplined display to secure a 5-0 victory over Berwal, extending an unbeaten streak that stretches back 11 fights to November.
"My main asset is my feet and my speed," Thomas said. "That's what works for me with these heavyweights, because a lot of these heavyweights rely on one shot. I don't rely on that, so it's great."
Commonwealth victory and British heavyweight legacy
By capturing gold in Scotland, Thomas followed in the footsteps of previous British Commonwealth super-heavyweight champions Joe Joyce, Frazer Clarke and Delicious Orie. Joyce won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before claiming silver at the Rio 2016 Olympics, while Clarke took gold at Gold Coast 2018 before winning Olympic bronze in Tokyo, and Orie won gold at Birmingham 2022.
The success in Glasgow cemented Thomas as one of the brightest prospects in British amateur boxing, but the young fighter insists he is focused strictly on building his own reputation.
"Yeah, it's a great feeling [to win gold]," Thomas said. "I managed to add my name to the British heavyweights that won the Commonwealth [gold]. Hopefully in LA I'll be able to add my name to those great heavyweights that managed to get Olympic gold."
Standing at 6ft 6in, Thomas has drawn frequent comparisons to Joshua, who won super-heavyweight gold for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics before becoming a two-time unified heavyweight world champion. Thomas remains unmoved by the expectations created by such comparisons.
"I'm just in my own race at the minute and taking it in my own strides," Thomas said. "I'm not comparing myself to anyone. I'm doing everything at my own pace, which is great. What I want to do is create my own legacy, which is a good feeling."
Amateur commitment through Los Angeles 2028
While many decorated amateur boxers face pressure to turn professional early, Thomas confirmed that his immediate future lies entirely in the amateur code as he targets gold at the LA 2028 Olympics.
The Olympic Games represent the highest prize in amateur boxing, held every four years under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee. Great Britain has enjoyed a strong tradition in the super-heavyweight division, which features fighters weighing over 92 kilograms.
"First, I want to tick off that box with LA. I'm taking one tournament at a time," Thomas said. "It's a marathon, not a sprint. And I'm just taking everything at my own pace. The main goal is the Olympics. Until then, I'm thinking about Olympics and nothing else. But after the Olympics, I'll definitely turn professional."
Upcoming televised boxing action
Action in the professional ring continues on August 29 with the MVPW-06 fight card in Birmingham, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The event features a headline bout between former world champions Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron, with undefeated British lightweight prospect Caroline Dubois also scheduled to compete.
