KEY POINTS
- SportPesa boxing support returns after a six-year break.
- The company plans to expand SportPesa boxing support through grassroots programs.
- SportPesa aims to rebuild stable competition pathways for Kenyan fighters.
SportPesa is stepping back into Kenyan boxing after a six-year break, marking a renewed push by the gaming company led by businessman Ronald Karauri to restore a sport that lost momentum when its biggest corporate supporter pulled away in 2019. The brand wants to rebuild competitions that once offered Kenyan fighters a path to domestic and regional recognition, and it says the revival is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its place in local sports.
SportPesa boxing support resurfaces
Karauri announced the renewed commitment during the fifth edition of the Ultra Fighting Series (UFS BXNG) Night at the Edge Convention Centre in South C, Nairobi. SportPesa served as the main sponsor. The card drew attention from across East Africa, highlighted by the Women’s Pugilistic Syndicate of Tanzania Super Bantamweight title bout, a matchup that helped anchor the night’s program.
Speaking after the event, Karauri said the company is officially returning to boxing after nearly six years of limited involvement. SportPesa halted its support in 2019. That pause left a notable gap in funding and reduced visibility for the sport. Although other brands stepped in to offer partial backing, many athletes continued to experience uneven access to training opportunities and stable competition schedules. Karauri said SportPesa wants to close that gap by putting structured backing behind fighters who have long struggled for consistent support.
He added that the renewed push goes beyond sponsoring headline nights. SportPesa plans to restart development at the grassroots level and position young fighters for professional opportunities. The company says it will back more events in 2025 and work with promoters to develop a steady calendar of tournaments to give athletes regular competition.
Expanding SportPesa boxing support across disciplines
The company’s return to boxing fits into a larger rebuild of its sports portfolio. In March 2024, SportPesa rolled out the Tujiamini program, a youth-focused initiative that targets talent in football, athletics, basketball and other disciplines. The effort strengthened its presence at a time when several local programs were under financial strain.
SportPesa’s involvement also extends to rugby. According to Billionaire Africa, in 2023, it boosted the national sevens team with fresh support, backing the National Sevens Circuit with Ksh15 million ($103,000) and the 2023/2024 season with Ksh22 million ($151,000). The partnerships reinforced SportPesa’s role as a core sponsor of local sports, from the grassroots stage to international competition.
The renewed boxing project is expected to help restore a sport that produced several of Kenya’s admired athletes in previous decades. With SportPesa back in the picture, fighters may regain access to structured training, reliable events and the type of recognition that once defined the country’s boxing field.
