Kenyan Boxing in 2025: Reform, Resilience and the rise of a new generation

Kenyan boxing in 2025 has been a story of quiet reform, stubborn resilience and unmistakable revival.

From the boardroom to the boxing ring, the sport has shown signs of renewal, powered by leadership changes, a competitive national league and a generation of boxers rising through disciplined structures.

At the centre of this reset is Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) President Anthony ‘Jamal’ Ombok, who secured a fresh four-year mandate with a promise to finally unlock the long-awaited sponsorship support.

After years of operating without commercial backing, Ombok believes the tide is turning.

“We have managed to sustain boxing despite operating without sponsors for the past five years,” Ombok said.  “However, we have consistently improved with each step we take. More progress is on the horizon, and once we finalize these sponsorship deals, it will mark a turning point for both local and international competitions.”

The elections also ushered in a blend of continuity and fresh energy within the federation’s leadership, including the return of Olympic bronze medalist Ibrahim Bilali to the executive committee — a symbolic nod to Kenya’s proud boxing heritage.

The presence of former champions alongside administrators signals a federation keen on reconnecting governance with lived boxing experience.

That renewed focus was evident in the 2025 National Boxing League, widely regarded as the most competitive in recent memory.

Kenya Police’s ‘Chafua Chafua’ stamped their authority once again, clinching the league title in Kisumu, but the real victory lay in the depth of competition across counties and institutions.

BFK Secretary General David Munuhe says the league’s smooth execution and rising standards are proof that boxing is firmly back on an upward curve.

“The league was very good and ran smoothly without any hitches,” Munuhe noted. “As a federation, we are happy. We urge teams to carry this morale into next year, and we hope more counties will join the league.”

Beyond the trophies, individual brilliance lit up the season. Amina Martha secured the Best Female Boxer award while national team captain Boniface Mogunde was crowned the 2025 Best Male Boxer, embodying the discipline and structure that modern Kenyan boxing is striving for.

Mogunde, the Africa Boxing Championships gold medalist, credits faith, personal sacrifice and institutional support from the Kenya Police for his rise.

“I’m a boxer and a police officer, and I’m grateful because boxing has made me who I am,” Mogunde said. “Through God’s grace, hard work and discipline, I’ve reached this level, and I hope to go even further.”

The resurgence was not limited to athletes alone. In a landmark achievement, Kenyan referees Nelson Otieno and Samuel Obiero earned IBA Star 3 certification, placing them among the elite officials eligible for the Olympics and World Championships.

For a country long underrepresented in global officiating, it was another sign of growing credibility.

Coupled with grassroots initiatives like ‘Ndondi Mashinani’ and increased government-backed international exposure, 2025 has reaffirmed that Kenyan boxing is no longer surviving — it is rebuilding.

The challenge now is sustaining this momentum, converting reform into resources, and ensuring the rising stars of the national league can carry the sport back to continental and global prominence.