▪️Luyoyo has assured medal winners in the Africa Elite Championships they will be paid their prize money

November 8, 2025

KINSHASA, DR Congo — When cash-strapped sports ministries across the continent threatened to leave dozens of Africa’s finest pugilists stranded on the sidelines, International Boxing Association (IBA) Africa President General Ilunga Luyoyo stepped into the ring with his chequebook to deliver a knockout blow to financial barriers.

In an unprecedented display of leadership and passion for the sweet science, Luyoyo single-handedly bankrolled flight tickets and full accommodation for boxers and officials from 17 nations—while also covering 50 percent of officials’ per diems—enabling them to compete at the Africa Elite Boxing Championships in Kinshasa.

Thanks to Luyoyo’s timely intervention, the Kinshasa spectacle shattered a 64-year-old record, drawing an all-time high of 171 boxers from 28 countries—the largest turnout since the continental tournament’s inception in 1962.

The 17 nations rescued by Luyoyo’s generosity included:

• Southern Africa: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique

• East & Central Africa: Uganda, Burundi, Congo, and Chad

• West & North Africa: Ghana, Sierra Leone, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and Libya

Without Luyoyo’s lifeline, teams from these 17 countries would have missed out on the continent’s premier boxing showcase after their respective governments failed to fund their trips.

Speaking exclusively to boxersworld.co.ke in Kinshasa, Luyoyo made it clear that African boxing must take charge of its own destiny rather than waiting for outside handouts.

“African boxing will only succeed if we all chip in instead of expecting foreign sports bodies to do everything for us,” Luyoyo declared. “That’s why I supported the 17 countries to expose our boxers.”

And the boxing boss isn’t stopping there. Luyoyo revealed bold plans to put real money into fighters’ pockets starting next year.

“I have big plans for African boxing, among them introducing a new tournament next year where boxers will be paid,” he said.

Senior IBA Africa official and close Luyoyo confidant Andre Basile Kalong hailed the president’s massive financial sacrifice as unmatched in the history of the sport on the continent.

“Luyoyo paid 50 percent per diems and offered free accommodation for officials, alongside flight tickets and free accommodation for 17 countries,” Kalong noted.

“This is total commitment. No other boxing leader in Africa has genuinely dedicated himself to the development of boxing like our President has done,” said Kalong.

With record-breaking participation and a visionary leader willing to put his money where his mouth is, African boxing has officially entered a bold new era.

Meanwhile Luyoyo has assured medal winners in the Africa Elite Championships they will be paid their prize money.

“I’m finalising a few pertinent issues with the IBA, and then they will wire the money to the bank accounts of the boxers,” said Luyoyo making it clear it’s the IBA responsible for paying the prize money.

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️Kenya’s flyweight sensation Ellah Demesi to battle Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia in the quarterfinals

▪️Africa’s female fighters led the charge, accounting for three of the four victories at the Dakar Expo Centre

November 8, 2026

Four African boxers punched their way into the quarterfinals on the opening day of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games boxing tournament on Saturday, November 7.

However, it was a day of mixed fortunes for the continent, as three other African hopefuls suffered early exits after losing their preliminary bouts.

And Kenya’s talented flyweight southpaw Ellah Demesi will take on Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia in the November 9 quarterfinals following the latter’s 5-0 points win over New Zealand’s Leo Newman.

Africa’s female fighters led the charge on the opening day, accounting for three of the four victories at the Dakar Expo Centre:

• Cerine Kessal (Algeria –Women’s Flyweight): Kessal cruised past Australia’s Maia Laird to set up a quarterfinal clash against Bhutan’s Sangay Peldon.

• Besma Bahri (Algeria –Women’s Featherweight): Joining her compatriot in the last eight, Bahri delivered a dominant 5–0 unanimous decision over Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-Jun. She will next face Ukraine’s Yevahhelina Petruk.

• Precious Masaba (Botswana – Women’s Flyweight): Masaba put on a clinical display to outpoint Jordan’s Tala Hussein. She advances to meet Canada’s Mehreen Khakh in the quarterfinals on Monday, November 9.

• Emil Ismailov (Equatorial Guinea –Men’s Bantamweight): Standing as the lone African male winner on Day One, Ismailov defeated the Dominican Republic’s Michael Reyes and will take on Lebanon’s Ramzi Hilali in the next round.

All three of Africa’s Day One eliminations came in the men’s division:

• Denzel Namaseevayen (Mauritius – Men’s Bantamweight): Bowed out following a loss to Australia’s Marley Dodd.

• Algeria’s Bilal Lezoul (Men’s Welterweight): Suffered a 5–0 defeat against Japan’s Kenshin Sakuno.

• Jihad Mohamed (Libya)-Men’s Light-Middleweight):* Eliminated after falling to Kazakhstan’s Bibarys Ashirbay.

boxersworld.co.ke

• ▪️Kenya’s sensational southpaw Ellah Demesi is brimming with confidence

November 7, 2026

Fourteen African boxers—headlined by Kenyan sensation Ellah Demesi—have bypassed the opening rounds to land straight in the quarter-finals of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

Following Thursday’s official draw, eight male and six female pugilists from the continent earned coveted byes ahead of today’s tournament opener on November 7, 2026.

• Kenya’s Ellah Demesi: Fresh off a standout campaign as Kenya’s top performer at the World U19 Championships in Bangkok, the flyweight star will face the winner of the pre-quarter clash between New Zealand’s Lea Newman and Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia.

• Nigeria’s Shukurat Mayowa: Also advancing directly to the last eight, the female minimumweight contender awaits the victor of a gritty bout between Thailand’s Pemika Payungkasem and Algeria’s Bouthania Bensalah.

As Africa hosts the Youth Olympic Games for the first time in history, 27 boxers from across the continent (14 men and 13 women) are vying for podium glory on home soil.

Action starts in earnest today, with seven African fighters stepping into the ring for the opening session.

Commenting on the draw, Demesi told boxersworld.co.ke she’s happy to be in the quarter-finals and ready for any opponent.

“I’m here to win a medal for my country I don’t care whom I’ll meet, she should just prepare for a tough fight,” said Demesi in a telephone interview.

She’s happy with life in the Games Village.

“I can’t complain though they don’t have my favourite food pilau, I’m eating mostly rice and potatoes.”

Coach David Munuhe is delighted Demesi is already in the quarters.

“The bye is very welcome, it’s to our advantage, she’s confident of bringing home a medal,” Munuhe told boxersworld.co.ke.

▪️Their appearance will carry added significance as Dakar 2026 becomes the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil, giving Senegal’s young athletes the opportunity to compete on the Youth Olympic stage in front of a home crowd.

November 4, 2026

Soda Faye, Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall Faye and Khadidiatou Boiro will represent host nation Senegal when the boxing competition at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games begins on 7 November.

The three young boxers will compete in the men’s 50kg, women’s 57kg and women’s 60kg categories at the Dakar Expo Centre, where 116 athletes from 77 countries will contest ten titles across five men’s and five women’s divisions.

Their appearance will carry added significance as Dakar 2026 becomes the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil, giving Senegal’s young athletes the opportunity to compete on the Youth Olympic stage in front of a home crowd.

Soda Faye will compete in the women’s 57kg category after building valuable international experience over the past year.

Despite having only two to three years of experience in the sport, Faye attracted attention through an unbeaten run in national galas and development competitions before making her mark internationally.

She earned a silver medal at the African Youth Games in Angola in December 2025 and later reached the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2026.

Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall Faye will represent Senegal in the men’s 50kg division. Like Soda, he has been boxing for approximately two to three years and established himself through a series of strong performances at national level.

He also competed at the World Boxing Futures Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in Bangkok. His performances were praised by the Senegalese team for the courage, determination and composure he displayed against international opposition.

Senegal’s third representative, Khadidiatou Boiro, will bring a broader combat-sport background to the women’s 60kg competition.

Boiro began her sporting career in 2020 through Chinese boxing and hapkido. She became a two-time Senegalese champion in Chinese boxing and a three-time national champion in hapkido, in which she holds a black belt. She also collected several gold medals in interclub competitions.

After taking up Olympic-style boxing in 2025, Boiro continued her domestic success and has remained unbeaten across championships, interclub competitions and other national events. Her rapid progress has been driven by the strength of character and desire to improve that have defined her sporting journey.

Guiding the three athletes is Senegal youth team head coach Ibrahima Wade, whose own involvement in boxing began at an early age.

Wade progressed through the national age-group system before becoming a multiple Senegalese champion and earning selection for the national team. He represented his country at Zone 2 tournaments, African Championships and several other international competitions.

After moving into coaching, Wade opened a boxing gym named in honour of his late mentor, Antoine Marie Mbengue. He has since devoted himself to grassroots and youth development, helping to prepare a new generation of Senegalese boxers.

A state-certified Level 1 coach, Wade has undertaken further coaching courses in France and China. He was subsequently appointed head coach of Senegal’s Olympic youth team in preparation for Dakar 2026.

Under his leadership, the team competed at the African School Games in Algeria and the African Youth Games in Angola in 2025 before travelling to Bangkok for the World Boxing Futures Cup in March 2026.

The final phase of the team’s preparation included an advanced training camp in China from 21 August to 14 September, attended by Wade and eight members of Senegal’s Olympic youth boxing programme.

For Soda Faye, Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall Faye and Khadidiatou Boiro, those years of preparation will culminate with the opportunity to represent their country at a home Youth Olympic Games.

Boxing at Dakar 2026 will take place from 7–12 November, with two sessions scheduled each day.

Courtesy World Boxing

▪️The three have clawed their way to the pinnacle of world boxing officiating through sheer grit, relentless commitment, and heavy personal investment

▪️Boxers will eat with the big spoon in the lucrative IBA Elite President’s Cup tournament

▪️IBA is completely reinventing the game with a brand-new competition model designed to ensure that athletic brilliance receives life-changing financial rewards.

November 6, 2026

After an impressive show in the ring at the IBA Africa Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, Kenya’s renowned Star-3 R&J Nelson “Jaluo Jeuri” Otieno is leading the continent’s elite boxing caravan to Istanbul, Turkey, for the USD 3 million inaugural President’s Cup Championships running from November 27 to December 4.

Otieno, Leila and Lone will stand among the crème de la crème of African Star 3 Referees and Judges (R&Js) selected to officiate this high class tournament.

THE PRICE OF GREATNESS: FROM SELLING CARS TO JETS AND GOLD MEDALS

True excellence isn’t given; it is earned in the shadows. Nelson, Leila, and Lone have clawed their way to the pinnacle of world boxing officiating through sheer grit, relentless commitment, and heavy personal investment—dipping deep into their own pockets to fund their journeys through the grueling IBA Classification Courses.

They aren’t the only ones who risked it all for the love of the sport:

 The ultimate gamble: Zimbabwe’s legendary Steve Masiyambumbi famously sold his own car just to finance his trip to Dubai for the elite Star-3 certification course.

The payoff: Today, Masiyambumbi practically lives in the clouds, jetting from continent to continent to call the shots at the world’s biggest international boxing spectacles.

We send our maximum respect and best wishes to these world-class African R&Js as they take center stage in Turkey!

BRAVO IBA ON THE MEGA-MONEY BLUEPRINT: BOXERS TO “EAT WITH A BIG SPOON”

The IBA is completely reinventing the game with a brand-new competition model designed to ensure that athletic brilliance receives life-changing financial rewards.

🏆 The grand finale payouts

In Istanbul, boxers won’t just be fighting for glory—they will be competing for a massive fortune. The placement prize money breakdown per weight category is staggering:Tournament Placement Prize Money (USD)

🥇 1st Place (Champions) $80,000

🥈 2nd Place $40,000

🥉 3rd Place $22,000

🏅 5th Place $5,000

Pay-As-You-Win: Cash from the Very First Bell.

The financial rewards kick off long before the medal rounds. To keep the intensity high from day one, boxers will pocket $500 cash for every single preliminary bout won on their march toward the quarter-finals. The moment a fighter punches their ticket to the quarter-finals, they automatically lock in the minimum fifth-place prize of $5,000.

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK: THE 50-25-25 SPLIT

In a historic move to uplift the entire boxing ecosystem, this revolutionary prize money model recognizes that it takes a village to build a champion. The cash won’t just go into the boxer’s pocket; it will be distributed to sustain the sport from the grassroots up:

1) 50% goes directly to the warrior in the ring (The Boxer)

2) 25% goes to the mastermind in the corner (The Coach)

3) 25% goes to the backbone of the sport (The National Federation)

AN OPEN COMPETITION WELCOMING ELITE AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL BOXERS

The IBA President’s Cup 2026 will become the inaugural event of IBA Elite series.

Featuring 14 men’s weight categories, the President’s Cup will be staged as an open international competition welcoming both elite amateur and professional boxers, backed by a total prize money fund of USD 3 million.

The action will take place at the Başakşehir Gençlik ve Spor Tesisleri, a venue already familiar to the international boxing community after hosting the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Four years later, the arena will once again welcome boxers from around the world — this time for the opening chapter of IBA Elite.

IBA Elite has been created to provide leading boxers with a stronger and more continuous international competition structure, offering regular opportunities to face high-level opposition and progress on sporting merit.

At the centre of the new system will be the IBA World Ranking, designed to accompany boxers throughout their sporting journey and connect their performances across IBA Elite competitions.

Every result will matter. Ranking points earned through competition will build a boxer’s international standing and play an important role in qualification for future editions of the IBA President’s Cup and the IBA World Championships.

This creates a clear sporting pathway in which performances throughout the season can lead towards IBA’s most important competitions.

IBA Elite will also strengthen the bridge towards IBA Pro, giving outstanding boxers the opportunity to showcase themselves internationally and potentially progress into IBA’s professional competition structure.

▪️She is Kenya’s first ever boxer to take part in the Youth Olympic Games

November 6, 2026

One of Kenya’s most successful grassroots coaches, Edward Ogweno, popularly known as “Dembuts,” has expressed confidence that his star boxer, Ellah Demesi, will excel at the Youth Olympic Games boxing tournament starting this Saturday, November 7, in Dakar.

Speaking on behalf of the Kibra Youth Boxing Club—a proven cradle for local boxing talent—Ogweno rallied the nation behind the young fighter.

“We in Kibra Youth and Kenyans as a whole wish Demesi the best of luck in Dakar,” Ogweno told boxersworld.co.ke

“We are all monitoring her closely and pray to God to give her extra strength to come back home with a medal.”

Demesi’s journey from the grassroots rings of Kibra to the global stage in Senegal highlights the vital role local boxing clubs play in nurturing world-class athletic talent.

As she steps into the ring in Dakar, she carries not just the hopes of her community, but the pride of an entire nation, thanks to Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) Ndondi Mashinani Initiative.

boxersworld.co.ke

• Kenya’s Ellah Demesi, 16, is one of the African boxers taking part in the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

November 6, 2026

Boxing at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games runs from November 7 to November 12, 2026, marking a historic milestone as part of the first-ever Olympic event held on the African continent.

Dates: November 7 – November 12, 2026 (Preliminaries start November 7; medal bouts on November 12).

Location: Dakar Expo Centre (Diamniadio), Senegal.

Participants: 116 elite youth boxers (57 male, 59 female) representing 77 National Olympic Committees.

Governing Body: World Boxing serves as the International Federation for boxing at the Youth Olympic Games for the first time.

Milestone: The competition achieves full gender parity with an equal number of weight categories for both male and female athletes.

Weight Categories

Women 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg

Men 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg

▪️With a total prize fund of $3 million, the President’s Cup will feature 12 men’s weight categories, with champions receiving $100,000, silver medallists $50,000 and bronze medallists $25,000

November 4, 2026

Two-time Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov (UZB) will face Roderick Bautista (PHI) for the IBA.PRO world title in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 4 December, adding a professional championship contest to the final day of the inaugural International Boxing Association (IBA) President’s Cup.

The 10-round bout at 52.2 kg will be staged alongside the President’s Cup finals at Sinan Erdem Sports Arena, combining elite international competition and professional title boxing on one of the biggest days in the IBA calendar.

Dusmatov, who won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, is one of Uzbekistan’s most accomplished boxers. Having established himself among the leading figures in amateur boxing, he is now seeking to add an IBA.PRO world championship belt to his collection of titles.

His opponent, Bautista, will represent the Philippines in a contest that offers both boxers the opportunity to claim the world title on an international stage.

The championship bout will form part of the closing programme of the first IBA President’s Cup, which will take place from 27 November to 4 December.

The tournament marks the launch of IBA Elite, a new international competition platform designed to bring amateur and professional boxers together within a unified sporting pathway.

With a total prize fund of $3 million, the President’s Cup will feature 12 men’s weight categories, with champions receiving $100,000, silver medallists $50,000 and bronze medallists $25,000.

The competition will also open a new IBA World Ranking cycle, with results contributing to qualification for future editions of the President’s Cup and the IBA World Championships.

The finals on 4 December will coincide with the Global Boxing Forum, which will gather representatives of the international boxing community in Ista nbul. The IBA Ordinary Election Congress will follow on 5 December.

Courtesy IBA

▪️The Ugandan boxing queen TKO’s Tanzanian Husna Zamba; Niyonzima and Kazungu triumph too.
▪️Putting aside the profound geopolitical hurdles, promoter Gael Assumani and his regional partners proved that East African boxing can still deliver

November 4, 2026

Kinshasa, DR Congo – Uganda’s rising boxing sensation, Fatuma “The Thunder” Nabikolo, extended her flawless professional ascent with a devastating super-featherweight fourth-round technical knockout (TKO) over Tanzania’s Husna Zamba on October 31 in Goma, DR Congo.

Fighting under the BodyMax Promotions banner, Nabikolo lived up to her moniker. She unleashed a ruthless assault that floored her Tanzanian opponent in the second and third rounds.

“She got the first count in the second round and second one in the third round,” said Fatuma who was on top of her game.

By now the writing was already on the wall: Husna would not finish the full course. Fatuma stepped up pressure in the fourth round, unleashing a barrage of two-fisted flurries which landed with alarming frequency on the tired and bruised Husna who received another count after which the referee decided to wave it off. Enough was enough.

“I’m very happy with the victory and already looking forward to my next pro fight,” a jovial Fatuma told boxersworld.co.ke. “I am aiming straight for the top.”

Fatuma’s victory spearheaded a highly successful night for BodyMax Promotions at the 12-bout card, which was organized by Goma-based promoter-cum-boxer Gael Assumani of Nyama Boxing Promotions. The stable walked away with a perfect clean sweep.

Top Rwandan lightweight Pacific Niyonzima outpointed Uganda’s Johnson Charles over six rounds, while super welterweight Frank Kazungu secured a good hard-fought decision against Uganda’s Mike Lukyamuzi.

“I’m delighted all three of my boxers won their fights,” said an ecstatic Asman Emma, BodyMax CEO and Vice-President of the Rwanda Boxing Federation.

“We are already shifting focus to planning our next big card in Kigali.”

Behind the triumph, however, lay a logistical nightmare for the event organizers. Promoter Gael Assumani expressed immense relief that the card proceeded smoothly, pulling back the curtain on the severe infrastructural paralysis currently plaguing Goma.

Following two years of intense conflict between M23 rebels and government forces, Goma has been left operating completely without functional banks or an active airport.

The resulting economic and geographical blockade forced international fighters to fly into neighboring Rwanda, followed by a exhausting three-hour road journey across the border.

“We have to do most of our financial transactions in the Rwandan border town of Gisenyi, or rely heavily on mobile money transfers routed from Kinshasa,” Assumani revealed to boxersworld.co.ke.

The alternative routes remain entirely unviable for domestic boxers. For Kinshasa-based Congolese fighters to reach Goma, they must first fly into Kigali, Rwanda, before boarding road transport to Goma. Relying on internal Congolese infrastructure would require a grueling, week-long boat journey up the Congo River to Kisangani, followed by three days of driving to Beni, and one final day on hazardous roads to reach Goma.

Despite the profound geopolitical hurdles, Assumani and his regional partners proved that East African boxing can still deliver elite-level boxing under the toughest of conditions.

KINSHASA, DR CONGO — The International Boxing Association (IBA) Africa has officially announced that Mali’s capital city, Bamako, will host the 2027 edition of the African Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships.

November 4th, 2026

This major milestone was confirmed following a productive telephone consultation between IBA Africa Interim President, General Ilunga Luyoyo, and Mali’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdoul Kassim.

During the briefing, Minister Kassim guaranteed the full support of the Malian government, confirming that public authorities will collaborate closely with the national boxing federation to stage Africa’s flagship boxing tournament. Both leaders emphasized their shared vision to deliver a world-class sporting experience that matches the prestige of Africa’s absolute pinnacle boxing event.

DR Congo hosted the 2026 Africa Elite Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, which stood out as the most successful continental tournament since the event’s inception in 1962.

The host nation dominated the competition, securing top honors with a record-breaking haul of 17 gold medals, one silver, and six bronze medals. Cameroon followed in second place 3-4-7 tally, while Zambia finished third 3-1-0

Looking ahead, Africa’s flagship boxing event moves to Bamako for the 2027 Africa Elite Championships, offering Malian boxers a prime opportunity to excel on home soil.

Mali’s quest for glory will be spearheaded by middleweight standout Djibril Traore, who secured a bronze medal at the 2025 IBA Men’s World Championships in Dubai, making him one of only three African medallists at that global event.

Although Traore missed this year’s tournament in Kinshasa due to his demanding academic schedule in Paris, the 2024 Africa Elite Championships bronze medallist is poised to lead his nation’s charge at home.

*A continuing legacy of major sporting events in Mali*

Securing the 2027 Africa Elite Championships cements Mali’s growing profile as a capable destination for major continental competitions.

The capital city of Bamako is no stranger to welcoming Africa’s athletic elite, having successfully hosted landmark sporting events that include:

*2002 Africa Cup of* *Nations (AFCON):* The historic 23rd edition of Africa’s biggest football tournament, which brought millions of eyes to newly built stadiums in Bamako, Kayes, Mopti, Ségou, and Sikasso.

*FIBA Women’s AfroBasket (2011 and 2017):* Mali played host to Africa’s premier women’s basketball championship twice, drawing massive local crowds and solidifying the nation’s reputation as a basketball powerhouse on the continent.

*All-Africa Senior* *Badminton* *Championships:* Demonstrating its infrastructure versatility, Bamako has successfully organized top-tier multi-national racquet sport tournaments.

*A new era for African boxing*

The Africa Elite Boxing Championships continue to break barriers across the continent.

Following the record-setting attendance – 171 boxers from 28 countries – seen at the recent edition in Kinshasa, the 2027 tournament in Bamako is set to write the next great chapter for African boxing.

“The commitment from Minister Abdoul Kassim and the Malian government ensures that our boxers will have an outstanding stage to demonstrate their world-class talent,” said IBA Africa Interim President General Ilunga Luyoyo, adding:”Mali has a proud history of hosting major African tournaments, and we are confident that Bamako 2027 will raise the bar even higher for the sport of boxing across the continent.”

Further details regarding the exact dates, competition venues, and participating nations for the 2027 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships will be shared by IBA Africa Media in upcoming press statements.

IBA Africa Media