▪️28 Nations march into a rhumba-fueled boxing bonanza in Kinshasa!
▪️General Luyoyo delivers a spectacular cultural knockout in DRC
▪️Cameroon’s 2023 female flyweight champ Loura Ngoune and DRC’s Gisele Nyembo vow ring warfare in final showdown!
▪️Minister Didier Budimbu declares 22nd African Boxing Championships open as stars fight for glory and IBA prize money!
▪️Boxers want more food and variety at Golden Tulip Hotel
October 23, 2026
The night air at the iconic Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa crackled with pure energy as the 22nd edition of the Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships burst into life on Thursday.
Under the flashing arena lights, enthusiastic crowds of DRC boxing fans transformed the stadium into a massive, pulsating festival of rhythm, color, and athletic pride.
IBA Africa President General Ilunga Luyoyo lived up to his grand promise, seamlessly blending sports with local heritage. Infectious Congolese rumba music belted from the DJ’s speakers, sending waves of dance and synchronous clapping through the stands. The cultural spectacular reached a jaw-dropping peak when fire-eaters took center stage, leaving the thousands in attendance utterly dumbfounded as balls of flame illuminated the Kinshasa night.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the colorful parade of nations began. Boxers from 28 participating countries marched proudly past the gymnasium, a vibrant mosaic of national colors and billowing flags.
Leading the spectacular march-past were the boxers from Cameroon, who set a jubilant tone for the rest of the continental delegates.
Amidst the celebratory atmosphere, the simmering athletic rivalries were already boiling over—most notably in the women’s flyweight division. Because they are the only two competitors in their weight class, Cameroon’s 2023 African champion Loura Ngoune Reine and the DRC’s own hometown hero, defending champion Nyembo Gisele found themselves fast-tracked directly into an eagerly awaited final showdown.
The war of words has already begun. Reine confidently promised a fierce, unforgiving fight to regain her crown. Gisele, backed by the roaring home crowd, vowed to avenge her previous defeat. She claimed with burning intensity that Reine was heavily favored in their 2023 pitched battle and promised that their upcoming final would be absolute “fire.”
DRC’s Minister for Sport and Leisure, Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga, took to the podium to officially declare the one-week boxing extravaganza open. He emphasized that Africa’s elite pugilists would not just be fighting for continental glory and gold medals, but also for life-changing IBA prize money.
However, the tournament is not completely without early friction. Behind the scenes, several international boxers staying at the Golden Tulip Hotel voiced complaints regarding inadequate food portions, expressing hope that organizers would quickly rectify the hospitality issues so they could focus entirely on the ring.
With rhumba still echoing through the rafters and fierce sporting drama already locked in, the stage is officially set for a spectacular week of elite African boxing.
boxersworld.co.ke
