▪️It’s a new beginning for boxing in the continent with the influential IBA Africa Interim President General Luyoyo promising to deliver and to use his wide network to compliment IBA’s financial support for boxing in Africa
February 26, 2026
A wave of excitement and exuberant joy engulfed Africa boxing on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, when International Boxing Association (IBA) President, Umar Kremlev, announced the appointment of DR Congo’s federation President, Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo, the head of the newly-created IBA Africa.
In his letter of appointment, President Kremlev said the IBA Board of Directors settled on General Luyoyo in recognition of his leadership qualities, charisma and contribution to Africa boxing development.
Here’s Kremlev’s letter of appointment dated February 25, 2026:
“Dear Mr. Illunga,
Following the recent decision of the IBA Board of Directors, I would like to extend you my sincere congratulations on your appointment as IBA Africa Interim President.
“In accordance with Article 49.2 of the IBA Constitution 2025, the Continental Unit Presidents for IBA Asia and IBA Africa are appointed by the Board and serve as Directors with immediate effect. In this capacity, you will assume full voting rights as a member of the IBA Board.
“I trust that, with your understanding of the needs and aspirations of African National Federations as well as your established network across the continent, you are well positioned to contribute positively to the continued development of boxing in Africa.
“Close and constructive cooperation with the IBA Continental Desk will be important to ensure strong coordination, transparency, and sound governance, enabling us to serve the African boxing family effectively and responsibly.
“I look forward to working with you in a spirit of unity and shared responsibility within the IBA family. Please accept my sincere best wishes for success in this important role. I am confident that, through collective effort and good governance, African boxing will continue to move forward with the leadership it deserves.”
General Luyoyo’s appointment follows IBA’s new management structure in which they have dissolved all five continental confederations.
In the new IBA Policy on Centralised Operations of Continental Units, the dissolved continental confederations have been replaced by Continental Units namely IBA Africa, IBA America, IBA Asia, IBA Europe and IBA Oceania.
A structure of the Continental Unit will include a Continental Unit President and other staff hired by the IBA to be responsible for managing and developing all forms of boxing in the Continental Units.
All the Continental Units will be under a single global operational structure known as IBA Continental Operations Desk (IBA COD) taking charge of former continental offices.
IBA COD assumes full responsibility for global adminstrative service delivery under the direct authority of the IBA Secretary-General & CEO Chris Roberts OBE on behalf of the IBA President.
General Luyoyo has accepted the appointment, promising to adhere to the new management structure which he said was long overdue in view of the leadership wrangles that have bedevilled Africa’s boxing management.
“I’m thrilled by my appointment as the Interim President IBA Africa. I thank IBA President Umar Kremlev and Secretary-General & CEO Chris Roberts for showing their confidence in my leadership. I promise I will deliver and also initiate my own development plans to compliment IBA’s support for Africa boxing,” said a jovial Luyoyo.
Born 53 years ago in Lubumbashi, General Luyoyo, who resides in DR Congo’s capital city Kinshasa, has emerged as a significant figure in the development of boxing in Africa.
A senior officer in DR Congo’s Police service, Luyoyo has served as the President of Congolese Boxing Federation from 2018 and was one time the Vice President of the defunct Africa Boxing Confederation (AFBC).
Luyoyo is held in high esteem by the boxing fraternity in DR Congo and Africa as a whole for his managerial accumen in organizing major events including the highly successful 2024 Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Africa Boxing Championships in Kinshasa.
He is also involved in promoting professional boxing through Luyoyo Promotions which was involved in the crowning of WBC Africa cruiserweight champion Makabu Ilunga who captured the vacant WBC Africa title with a third round KO victory over Egypt’s Wagdy Attia at the Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa in 2024.
The IBA Africa Interim President is also the brainchild of the inaugural AFBC Pro Boxing Night staged early 2025 in Tunisia, the major aim being to financially empower Africa’s amateur boxers by taking part in pro boxing bouts.
In an interview with boxersworld.co.ke ahead of the Tunisia pro boxing show, Luyoyo said: “We have to start from somewhere, we can’t be relying on IBA to do everything for us. We must initiate and fund our own tournaments that can in future attract foreign boxers, we have the resources in Africa if properly tapped.”
Luyoyo has landed running in his new appointment. He’s now in the process of naming his IBA Africa team, and embark on preparations for the expected visit of celebrated former pro boxers, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. They will battle it out in an exhibition match on April 25 in Kinshasa. The supporting bouts will feature some of Africa’s top amateur boxers.
The other important tournament Luyoyo will be charged with organising is the Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships. He has indicated an interest to stage it again in case other countries are unable to do so. Kinshasa will definitely be a fitting choice to celebrate his appointment as IBA Africa President.
