Jonathan Kumuteo

Jonathan Kumuteo (born 5 November 1995) is a Congolese-born British professional boxer. As an amateur, he won the London ABA Championships.

Early life

Kumuteo was born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as Zaire). Kumuteo escaped war-torn Congo to Lusaka, Zambia during the Civil War. In March 2003, at the age of 7 years old, Kumuteo was woken up in the middle of the night by his mother and put on a plane to travel over 12,000 km to London, United Kingdom from Lusaka, Zambia by himself.

After settling into life in the United Kingdom, Kumuteo joined the Sea Cadets when he was nine years old. During his time in the Sea Cadets, he gained numerous qualifications; BTEC in Marine Engineering, Royal Yachting Association (RYA), and British Canoeing qualifications.

He won the London ABA Championships and went on to become a national medallist in the Senior National ABA England championships competing at Light Middleweight (71 kg).

Kumuteo was selected to represent Congo in the 2020 African Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament but turned down the opportunity because he had to undergo surgery and feared he would not be recovered in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games qualification tournament.

Kumuteo trains under the tutelage of Sean Murphy, a former Commonwealth Games Gold medallist, British and Commonwealth champion, and World Title challenger.

Health problems

Kumuteo has suffered from hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) which is a rare and painful, long-term skin condition that causes repeated abscesses and scarring on the skin. He battled with hidradenitis suppurativa, also known as acne inversa, for over 4 years, and was forced to undergo three surgeries, two of which were unsuccessful.

In July 2018, a specialist dermatologist informed Kumuteo that as an athlete, his body had only been functioning at 50% due to the long-term medication he had to take in order to contain the skin disease. Namely, it was causing severe fatigue and suppressing his immune system alongside other side effects.

Activism Kumuteo has delivered motivational talks and workshops to students across the United Kingdom, including Independent, Special Educational Needs (SEN), Junior, Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form Colleges.

Kumuteo is also an ambassador for Gloves Up Knives Down, a charity committed to supporting young people living in communities affected by knife crime. It provides access to boxing training, encouraging young people to embrace all the benefits the sport brings to help them lead fulfilling and healthy lives away from crime.

Having suffered from hidradenitis suppurativa, Kumuteo understands the impact the disease can have on one's life and therefore actively supports individuals who are living with it. This includes helping to raise awareness and also passing on his own first-hand experiences.