GB super-heavyweight Damar Thomas won’t be swayed from his goal of excelling at the LA Olympic Games in 2028.
Thomas is a gifted amateur boxer, he won the Commonwealth Games this year and most recently reached the final of the European championships.
Already, clearly, he would be a tremendous prospect in professional boxing. For a heavyweight of such potential, there will be lucrative opportunities to turn pro early on in an Olympic cycle.
It may be tempting but Thomas is keeping his focus on LA 2028.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t, but it’s all noise at the end of the day and I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics, ever since I got into boxing and saw all the Olympic greats I wanted to add my name to that list,” Thomas said.
“Nothing will stop me from doing that.”
Thomas won gold in the super-heavyweight final at the Commonwealth Games
He added: “I think it’ll be great. Paris was a good Olympics but I think LA will be even better.”
Since a loss to near-legendary Cuban Julio La Cruz at last year’s World championships, Thomas has been on a fantastic winning run. His only defeat in the last 12 months came in the European championship final when he boxed Russia’s David Surov for the first time.
“Everyone hates losing but it’s all a part of the journey,” Thomas said.
“You want to face everyone before the Olympics because that’s when it really matters. All these tournaments are learning so when it comes to the LA Olympics you’ve boxed everyone, you know how they are.
“I look forward to sharing the ring with him again hopefully, which I’m sure we will.”
Winning a European silver medal is still a major achievement, rare for a GB boxer.
“It’s a great feeling and it’s all a part of the process,” Thomas said. “We train to prepare for all styles. Nothing we haven’t seen before. Especially when you’re in the European final, you expect nothing less, you’re both the best operators in Europe.
“I’ve been in the ring with him now so I know what to expect… Everyone’s human at the end of the day and everyone’s beatable.
“It’s the long nights and the early mornings all paying off,” he added. “It’s all the hard work I’ve put into it and I’m definitely getting something out of it.”
Thomas has also now won a European silver medal
The experiences he’s getting now, boxing the best in the amateur sport at senior level, entering the biggest tournaments and winning medals, will stand him in good stead for when he eventually turns professional.
“The Olympics are only two years away so all these tournaments matter,” Thomas said. “It goes in the blink of an eye, especially when you’re out boxing every other month and going to these training camps, it goes in the blink of an eye.
“So we try to get as many bouts as we can under us. We’ve faced everyone, we’ve been in with every style, so it won’t come as a shock to us.”
Modern British boxing has a vibrant heavyweight scene, spearheaded by Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Thomas is looking forward to leading the next generation of British heavyweights.
“It’ll be great, especially once I’ve won this Olympic gold, it’ll be great to add my name to the list and carry it on,” he said.
“It’ll be great to carry the torch on.”