Bigg Boss 20: Mary Kom Says There Can Be No ‘Next Mary Kom’

September 7, 2026

Mumbai: Six-time world champion boxer Mary Kom has said there can be no “next Mary Kom”, stressing that her journey in boxing was built on discipline, consistency and an enduring hunger to succeed.

The Olympic bronze medallist, fondly known as the “Magnificent Mary”, has now entered the Bigg Boss 20 house, bringing her sporting legacy to one of India’s most-watched reality shows.

Asked who she believes could become the next Mary Kom in Indian boxing, the legendary boxer had a straightforward answer: “According to me, nobody.”

Mary Kom Explains Why There Can Be No ‘Next Mary Kom’

Explaining her view, Mary Kom said many boxers perform exceptionally well and win major competitions, but maintaining that level consistently is what sets her journey apart.

“There are so many boxers; they achieve it one or two times. But how many times? One is enough? Two is enough? But consistently, they are not achieving. That is only Mary Kom,” she said.

She added that several young boxers become satisfied after achieving success, gaining fame, popularity and financial rewards.

According to Mary, the challenge is to retain the hunger to keep achieving after the initial success.

“So, there are so many upcoming boxers. Yes, they are performing very well. They achieve one time, then they are satisfied,” she said, adding that once the hunger is gone, maintaining long-term success becomes difficult.

Mary Kom Backs Northeast’s Boxing Talent

Mary Kom also spoke about emerging boxing talent from the Northeast, particularly Jadumani Singh Mandengbam and Lovlina Borgohain.

Jadumani is from Manipur, Mary’s home state, while Lovlina represents Assam. Mary praised both boxers for their performances and expressed hope that they continue to shine at major international competitions.

She said she would be grateful to see them perform strongly at upcoming Asian Games and Olympic Games, adding that the Northeast continues to produce outstanding sporting talent.

Mary also referred to the 2014 biographical film Mary Kom, which was based on her life and starred Priyanka Chopra in the lead role.

Why Did Mary Kom Join Bigg Boss 20?

Despite having a hugely successful career in sport, Mary Kom said her decision to enter Bigg Boss 20 was driven by her desire to explore a completely different environment.

“This is my personal feeling that this platform is big, so I just want to go and see, to explore,” she said.

Mary added that she wanted to understand how she deals with people and how she communicates with them.

Her entry into Bigg Boss 20 therefore marks a new chapter for the boxing icon, taking her from the sporting arena into the unpredictable world of reality television.