Mogunde basks in boxing glory, attributes success to “faith and Police support”

National team captain and Africa Boxing Championships light-middleweight champion Boniface Mogunde has attributed his rise in the sport to “faith, discipline and strong institutional backing from the Kenya Police”.

 Mogunde, one of the country’s most celebrated pugilists, was at the weekend crowned the 2025 Best Male Boxer.

He revealed he almost pursued football, and could have turned out for Police FC, but he chose boxing instead of the beautiful game.

“I used to be a football player, but I was always on the bench,” he said. “That’s when I told myself to try another sport and see what would happen. That decision led me to boxing. My parents were initially against it, but with time they embraced it. As a family, we’ve relied on prayer to push through.”

He trains at the Mathare Police Depot arena, home of the renowned Kenya Police boxing team, ‘Chafua Chafua’, a foundation he says has shaped him into the boxer he is today.

“Kenya Police have really supported us,” he noted. “Chafua Chafua is a strong, disciplined squad with coaches who treat us like their own children. Their guidance has been invaluable.”

The reigning national light-middleweight champion and 2025 Player of the Season has played a major role in raising the profile of the Police boxing team on the international stage.

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