(March 1st) in Iceland's first professional boxing card since the 1956 ban, Reykjavik, Iceland the undefeated heavyweight, Gunnar “Ice Bear” Kolbeinn Kristinsson will face Vienna, Austria’s, Sasa “Bulldozer” Milenkovic in a twelve round title fight on April 10th at Reykjavik’s historic theater, Gamla Bio.

At 37 years old, the 6’6”, WBF and Baltic Boxing Union Heavyweight Champion, Kristinsson, 19-0, 13Ko’s boxing on a Swedish license holding three world titles (WBF Interim, GBU, and LBF) enters off two 2025 victories a seventh round TKO win over previously unbeaten Mike Lehnis in May and a second-round knockout of Pedro Martinez in November.

The 43-year-old, 6’1”, Milenkovic, 12-1, 11Ko’s comes in off two 2025 wins first a ten round unanimous decision win over common opponent Piotr Cwik in May (Cwik stopped in one round by “Ice Bear” December 2024) and a first-round knockout of Luka Stajic in October.

Professional boxing, or prize-fighting, is still illegal in Iceland under the 1956 law, unchanged as of early 2026, the upcoming Kristinsson vs. Milenkovic bout is proceeding as Iceland's first pro card by classifying it as an exhibition or "prize fight" overseen by a Swedish commission.

Professional boxing is still banned in Iceland, but the organizers believe the law has now outlived its purpose. There was a long-standing total ban on boxing, but the Olympic version has been allowed for several years. Kolbeinn himself says the law is outdated and that amateur boxing in Iceland has had prize money.

The April 10th, Kristinsson vs. Milenkovic card promoted by Nordic Ring marks Iceland's first pro boxing event in 70 years via a "prize fighting" workaround to the ban. The event falls under Swedish commission oversight due to Schengen rules, allowing foreign regulation without local legalization.

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The scheduled lineup features four pro bouts: unbeaten Norwegian heavyweight Brage Lange, 8-0, 8Ko’s, an ex-sparring partner of Kristinsson, opens; Icelandic pros Valgerdur Gudsteinsdottir, 7-8, 2Ko’s and Emin Kadri, 2-0 appear in separate fights. Three amateur bouts precede at 6:30 PM doors, blending Iceland's amateur strength with pro return.

Boxing arrived in 1916 via Danish coach Wilhelm Jackobson, gaining popularity in the 1930s-1940s before the prohibition. Amateur boxing resumed in 2002, but pros have fought only abroad, like Kolbeinn Kristinsson since 2014. Exhibitions or unsanctioned events may have occurred post-ban, but none are documented as official pro matches.

Boxing grew popular from the 1920s at venues like Gamla Bíó, with figures like heavyweight champion Guðmundur Arason active until the prohibition. The ban abruptly ended all pro activity amid safety concerns, leaving no cataloged final bout despite the sport's prior foothold

Iceland banned boxing entirely in 1956 (the law did not formally distinguish between amateur and professional boxing, it banned boxing as a sport) due to concerns over its dangers and a perceived link to rising violent crime during the sport's popularity surge in the 1930s and 1940s. This made Iceland the last Nordic country to maintain such a prohibition, even after neighbors like Sweden and Norway lifted theirs in 2007 and 2014.

The ban eased in 2002 for amateur boxing, regulated by the Icelandic Sports and Olympic Association, sparking growth to about 700 amateur boxers in a nation of 370,000. Professional bouts remain illegal, with authorities once arresting organizers and destroying a ring during an exhibition.

As of late 2025, pro boxing is still outlawed, forcing talents like heavyweight Kolbeinn Kristinsson to fight abroad under foreign licenses. Advocacy continues, fueled by Iceland's strong amateur scene and pressure from fighters, though no vote has revisited the pro ban since its quiet passage on a low-attendance Monday.

Iceland is currently the only Nordic country where professional boxing remains illegal.