▪️Marie Joelle Mwika, her younger sister Brigitte Mbabi, Nyembo Giselle and Diyoka Benedicte are among DR Congo’s female boxers to set alight Lumbumbashi
March 26, 2026
Reigning Mandela African Boxing Cup light heavyweight champion Marie Joelle Mwika leads an array of renowned DR Congo boxers for an all-female card on April 18 in Lubumbashi.
The 25-year-old Mwika will face Zimbabwe’s highly regarded Monalisa Sibanda (7-12-0), the first professional boxer from the southern African country.
In addition to Mwika, other leading DR Congo’s top boxers expected to set alight Lubumbashi are Mwika’s younger sister who is the reigning Africa and Mandela Cup welterweight champion Brigitte Mbabi, Africa and Zone 3 flyweight champion Nyembo Gisele and Africa, Mandela Cup and Zone 3 minimumweight champion Diyoka Benedicte will also be in action at the Attene Hewa Bora Arena.
Commenting on her Zimbambwean opponent, Mwika, making her second appearance in pro boxing, said she can’t lose at home.
“She cannot beat me at home in Lumbumbashi, this is where I was born,” Mwika told boxersworld.co.ke
“I’ve not seen her boxing but that’s not a problem, I’m better than her, I’m not aiming for a KO, if happens fine.”
Mwika is training at the Simba Ndoki Gym under coach Mathias Kitos.
Among other medals she has won for her country since making her international debut in 2018 are silver and bronze at the African Elite Men’s and Women’s Championships.
Mwika made her pro debut on September 26, 2025, outpointing compatriot Eyenga Fila from Matadi, the chief sea port of DR Congo and the capital of Kongo Central Province.
Owing to inactivity at home, Sibanda has mostly been fighting outside Zimbabwe. She is a regular feature in Kenya’s capital city Nairobi where she has fought Conjestina Achieng, Fatuma Zarika, Florence Muthoni and Everline Adero, her only victory being against Muthoni.
Mbabi, who is currently training in Kinshasa, said she has yet to be told the opponent she will fight.
“I’m ready for any boxer, I’m in top shape,” said Mbabi.
Mbabi and her elder sister Mwika started learning boxing in 2016 at the Muhammad Ali Gym under their father and coach the late Mwika Bamanya Emmanuel Blaise.
Their mum, Mbabi Brigitte, is their number one fan. She will definitely attend the show accompanied by her last born daughter Mulanga Meta.
The card was earlier scheduled for March 28th, but due to organizational hitches, the fights were postponed to April 18th.
