Mary Kom Love Story: Marriage, Divorce & Public Fallout Explained

Deepak Rajeev | Jan 16, 2026, 17:22 IST
Mary Kom & Karung Onkholer Kom During an Event
Image credit : IANS

Magnificent Mary Kom divorced her husband Karung Onkholer in December 2023. Allegations of financial betrayal and infidelity have surfaced from both sides. Mary Kom claims Onkholer withdrew large sums and transferred assets without her knowledge. Onkholer alleges Mary Kom had affairs. The couple's focus is now on their four children. Read this article to understand their whole story: from the moment of falling in love to the public divorce saga.

Mary Kom who stole the hearts of every Indian citizen, is a fighter in every sense. The record-breaking achievements that she had conquered in the field of boxing has gifted her the adorable nickname Magnificent Mary. However, recently a battle that she has been fighting in her personal life has filled the media spaces in India. In this article, we will explore the love story of Mary Kom with her ex-husband Karung Onkholer, her marriage, what contributed to their fallout and the entire public divorce saga.



Beginning of Mary Kom’s Love Story


Mary Kom and Family | Instagram - @mc.marykom

Everything began in the early 2000s, when Mary was a budding and promising young boxer. In fact, it was a particular incident that happened at Delhi that diverted the direction of both Mary’s and Onkholer’s path into the same direction. It was a day in which Mary had to travel a lot to attend an important boxing match. She fell asleep during the trip and when she woke up after a few hours, her baggages and important documents were missing.




Even though Mary was a very tough lady from her childhood days onwards, in this situation, she began to panic. Nevertheless, someone from the crowd stood up and came to her rescue during this very vulnerable period. It was Karung Onkholer. He stood with her throughout the day and helped her find the lost items. This was the point in which everything began. From then on, their bond strengthened very quickly and culminated in their marriage in 2005.




Who is Mary Kom’s Husband Karung Onkholer?


Who is Karung Onkholer? | Instagram - @mc.marykom

Karung Onkholer Kom was a footballer and a lawyer. He was trained in Law at Delhi University. Mary herself had said in her interviews from the past that “My husband always supports me. He is my backbone.” Indeed, Onkholer was always conscious about staying far away from the spotlight when Mary Kom’s boxing career was touching greater heights.



Cracks & Slippery Slopes: Divorce of Mary Kom


Reason for Mary Kom's Divorce | Instagram - @marykomfoundation

On the outside everything was looking fine and the public believed that the couple was having the time of their lives. But, according to Mary Kom, everything changed when she was bedridden as a result of an injury ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Later she said that, being bed-ridden for months, she had to face the uncomfortable truths in her life. In Mary Kom’s own words: “Everything was going well when I was out there competing. I didn’t have much role in the management of my own finances. However, during the period of my bed rest, I found out that I was living a lie.”



This was the time period in which Mary lost the trust in her partner and decided to move forward with a divorce.



Mary Kom’s Allegation Against Karung Onkholer


Public Fallout of Mary Kom and Karung Onkholer | Instagram - @marykomfoundation

The couple formally separated on 20th December 2023. In a recent interview on Aaap Ki Adalat, Mary Kom said that, Onkholer “earned no money” and was depending entirely on her financially. She alleged that she found out his “real face” when he withdrew 10 lakh rupees from her account without letting her know. Even further, when she confronted him for the same, he was lying. She decided to end it all when she understood that he transferred some of her assets that were worth crores into his name without letting her know. She also mentioned that she did not cheat him. On the other hand, he was the one who betrayed her financially.



Karung Onkholer’s Allegations Against Mary Kom


In a recent interview with IANS, Onkholer said that, ““Firstly, in 2013, she was having an affair with a junior boxer. Our families had a fight, and after that, we compromised. And since 2017, she’s been having a relationship with someone working at the Mary Kom Boxing Academy. I have their WhatsApp messages as proof. I have proof, with the name of the person with whom she was having an affair. I remained silent. She wanted to stay alone and have another relationship. We’re divorced. I don’t mind if she wants to have another husband. But don’t ever blame me. And if she’s to blame me, bring proof; get the papers. I know where she lives and with whom.”



Responding to Mary’s claim that she took care of the children by herself, Onkholer said that even though she was the main wage-earner at home, he was the one taking care of the children.



It is important to realise that in-between the verbal and emotional fights between parents, it is usually the children who suffer the most. Therefore, the sole focus of both parties today is the healthy upbringing of their 4 kids who are in boarding school now.



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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)



  1. Is Mary Kom still married?
    No, Mary Kom was officially separated in December 2023.
  2. What is the net worth of Mary Kom in Indian rupees?
    As of 2025, Mary Kom's net-worth is estimated around 33-43 crore rupees.
  3. Is Mary Kom a Hindu?
    No, Mary Kom is not Hindu. She was born in a Christian family in Manipur.
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