President William Ruto has pledged to support and grow boxing in the country following the highly publicised Vurugu Championship match between Majembe and Mbavu “The Destroyer”.
In a statement after the fight, the President said the match had reignited passion for boxing across the country, attracting massive attention from fans both online and offline.
“Congratulations Majembe (Portifas Odipo) on your victory against Mbavu ‘The Destroyer’ (Ferdinand Omondi). Both of you put up a spirited fight, delivering an entertaining match that kept us on edge,” Ruto said on Sunday Morning.
The President noted that the match was too close to call and praised both fighters for their performance, saying the match had restored belief and excitement in the sport.
He further committed to sustaining the momentum created by the fight, promising to support the growth of boxing through investment in talent and creating more opportunities for upcoming fighters.
“We commit to sustain this momentum by supporting the sport, investing in talent, and creating opportunities to grow boxing across the country,” he added.
The fight saw Majembe secure victory after Mbavu was unable to continue in the fourth round albeit amid controversy.
There was a brief ruckus in the crowd after Majembe allegedly punched Mbavu below the belt; however, this was overlooked as the judges ruled in favour of Majembe.
The Vurugu Boxing event was organised by media personality Oga Obinna cum digital content creator and branded as Vurugu Fight Night.
The event is now being seen as a turning point in reviving local boxing, with calls for more structured support and investment in the sport.
Before the bout, President William Ruto pledged Sh1,000,000 each to both fighters for training ahead of the bout and separately sponsored 2,000 fan tickets, bringing his total contribution to Sh4,000,000.
