Boxing Legend Mary Kom's Divorce Turns Into Public Feud
India's boxing queen MC Mary Kom finds herself in a different kind of fight now. Her nearly twenty-year marriage to Karung Onkholer ended in divorce in 2025. The six-time world champion confirmed the split but kept quiet about the reasons for months. Now, both sides are speaking out, and the accusations are flying fast.
Mary Kom Accuses Ex-Husband of Financial Betrayal
Mary Kom recently appeared on the popular show Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma. She did not hold back. The boxing star made serious claims about her former husband's conduct during their marriage.
She stated that Onler "never earned a penny" and completely depended on her boxing income. Mary Kom revealed a pivotal moment that changed everything for her. After suffering an injury in 2022, right before the Commonwealth Games, she says she saw his "real face."
The champion boxer described catching him in the act. She alleges he withdrew a massive sum of ten lakh rupees from her account without asking her. When confronted, he reportedly lied about the transaction. This was not an isolated incident, according to Mary.
She further accused Onler of transferring her valuable properties and assets into his own name. She claims this was done without her knowledge or consent. The total value reportedly runs into several crores of rupees. For Mary Kom, these actions felt like deep personal betrayals. She says the financial deception ultimately destroyed the trust in their marriage.
Onler Fires Back With Allegations of Infidelity
Karung Onkholer, often called Onler, has now responded publicly to Mary's charges. He completely denies the financial fraud allegations. In a recent interview, he presented a very different story about the marriage's breakdown.
Onler claims Mary Kom was unfaithful not once, but twice. He alleges the first affair happened back in 2013 with a junior boxer. This caused a major family conflict at the time. The couple managed to reconcile for the sake of their children and moved forward.
However, Onler says the problems resurfaced in 2017. He accuses Mary of having another relationship, this time with someone connected to her own boxing academy. He insists he has proof of these affairs, including WhatsApp messages. Onler says he knows the identity of the person involved.
"I remained silent for a long time," Onler stated. "She wanted to live separately and pursue another relationship. We are divorced now. I do not mind if she finds another husband. But she should not blame me falsely. If she wants to accuse me, she must bring solid proof and official documents."
Countering the Financial Claims
Onler strongly refuted Mary Kom's narrative about money and property. He pointed out that even after nearly two decades of marriage, he lives in a rented house in Delhi. He questions how he could be a wealthy fraudster under those circumstances.
He acknowledged helping Mary start and officially register the famous Mary Kom Boxing Academy. Yet, he notes with disappointment that someone else was appointed as its chairman. Onler also addressed her comments about childcare.
While accepting that Mary was the family's primary breadwinner due to her boxing career, he asserts he was the one actively taking care of their children on a daily basis. He feels his role in managing the home and family has been unfairly dismissed.
A Call for Restraint Amid the Chaos
The public airing of these deeply personal grievances has drawn concern from others in the boxing community. World championship medallist Gaurav Bidhuri has urged both parties to show restraint.
He emphasized that the complete truth of such serious matters cannot be established through media interviews alone. Bidhuri suggested that these allegations should properly be tested in a court of law, where evidence can be examined formally.
The divorce of a national sporting icon has exposed painful private conflicts. Supporters of Mary Kom see a champion betrayed by someone she trusted. Others hearing Onler's side wonder if there is more to the story. The court of public opinion is now in session, but the final verdict on this personal tragedy may remain private.
