Kenya Professional Boxing Commission President Reuben Ndolo/ TEDDY MULEIReuben Ndolo has issued a stern warning to promoters staging unauthorised boxing contests, vowing that the Kenya Professional Boxing Commission will crack down on rogue events threatening the integrity, credibility, and safety of the sport.
Ndolo also criticised what he described as the continued neglect of professional boxers by the government, citing cases where millions are spent on exhibition contests while genuine fighters continue to struggle for support.
“If the government can give comic boxers millions of money while we have cried for our boxers to get support for years, then that is unfair,” he said.
The KPBC boss warned that the commission would not allow boxing to be reduced to a money-making circus at the expense of licensed fighters and officials.
“Those promoters who are staging fights without putting in real boxers and paying them money, that is not right,” Ndolo said.
“We are going to take them to court. They will not use the name of boxing just to stage fights, paying money to people who are not real boxers while our referees have not been paid.”
Ndolo accused some promoters of hijacking the sport to advance personal business interests instead of helping develop boxing and protect fighters.
“They should not use the name of boxing in their businesses. We will not allow that. They should not use boxing to further their side businesses,” he added.
The veteran boxing administrator further cautioned that unregulated bouts expose fighters to serious danger and could easily end in tragedy inside the ring.
“Someone might die in the ring and the commission ends up being blamed. We want professionalism in boxing,” he warned.
Ndolo insisted that Kenya risks sanctions from global governing bodies such as the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association if illegal contests continue unchecked.
“We are under world bodies and we do not want to be suspended. We are under the WBC and WBA. If we get suspended, where will our boxers go?” Ndolo posed.
“As regulators in the country, anyone who tries to stage unauthorised events, we will take them to court.”
Ndolo reiterated that every professional boxing contest must strictly adhere to established regulations to safeguard fighters’ welfare and uphold the sport’s standards.
“A doctor should be there to check if boxers are fit mentally and physically before entering the ring,” he said.
“If it is an exhibition, they need to have headgear. That is the law.”
