How boxing is giving Congolese women new Hope?
2021 was the year of revelation of female boxing in the east of the DR. Congo, South Kivu, Bukavu a region which victim of multiple women right violations such as raping, kidnapping, Sexual harassment against women, killing and other horrifying crime. More and more women are enrolling in combat sport to make, to fight VBG, to earn life and improve good health. Over years sport combat such boxing was seems as man sport but with globalization of boxing, it has attracted women to join and give them consideration in the society also the income may not be the same as men in the industry. More women are coming out of stigma and break socials norms but join man boxing club and be treated equally when it comes to training and sometime sparing with men.
In the past we had only Two females boxers but now we have 10 in which 2 are semiprofessionals fighting 3 to 5 rounds of 3 mins which is a good progress as well others who are under learning stage aspiring to be the next Amanda Serra, Shield, Katty, Mayor etc.
We know it is a long, short but from where we started and where we are, we are making great progress and this effort need to be encourage by government, community, society of boxing and different boxing sanctions bodies (AIBA, WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO) so that we can keep their dream alive.
Currently we have 9 boxing clubs affiliated to the federation of Congolese boxing south kivu-Bukavu, in which only 4 clubs have females boxers such as
- Boxing club Kisiki (3,1 pro and learner).
- Boxing Club Radi (3, 1 semi-pro and learner).
- Boxing Club TBT (2 pro with more than 5 fights).
- Boxing Club Corrosif (2 learner).
These clubs have successfully trained these females boxers as their males’ counterparts with the same set of skills but due to lack of promotion all their talents is wasted. In the past 2 years we have organized boxing Gala of both men and women twice back in 2021 November where two fights happened one Boxing Club TBT(Bukavu) Lydia vs Boxing Club Nyama (Goma) Germaine and Boxing Club Radi (Noella) Vs Boxing Club Kisiki (Joelle). The other were organized in collaboration with Burundi Boxing association in the celebration of Independence Day of Burundi this year where only one female boxer were in the ring and she won.
This year we planned to host and female only Boxing gala but due to Covid and lack of resources we canceled. We hope if this activity will get funded or sponsored next, we will have more exciting fights to watch and this can be possible by the support of volunteers, donors and if possible, we can have it hosted abroad depending on opportunity given buy the available promotor.
“when I started boxing back in 2018 at 20 years old, single mama of 2 children. I was treated in the community as bandit, but I kept going to the club where I was the only female also while in the club men thought that I could not survive. But by the time I manage to pull through where some other men did not adapt with physical fitness even sparing with men, so I became respected in the club. My first fight in the ring I won by point and I remember being paid $20 but that did not discourage to keep doing what I love. I have inspired more women to join boxing and other combat sport, now I represent the province for national championship and coach of fitness club GOOD WIL but locally I don’t have an opponent” Female boxer, Boxing Club Radi
NOTE: THE MAIN CHALLENGE OF BOXING IN THE DR CONGO A SPECIALLY BUKAVU IS LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES, LACK OF PROMOTION AND SPONSORSHIP. THIS ARTICLE HIGHLIGHT MAJOR ARCHIEVEMNET OF BOXING IN BUKAVU AND ISSUE THE BOXERS WHO CHOOSED THIS DISCIPLINE AS WAY OF FIGHTING POVERTY AND HOW NEED SUPPORT. SOME HAVE GREAT FIGHTING EXPERIENCES BUT LACK OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THE TALENTS ABROAD. ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO SUPPORT THIS INITAIVE IS WELCOME.
https://www.francescatosarelli.com/kibomango/b8fgflmw33z5umbsdelfivpvtw7m6o
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2014/12/24/the-butterfly-effect-of-boxing-in-the-drc
https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2017/01/world/congo-boxing-photos/
https://news.cgtn.com/news/7863444f30454464776c6d636a4e6e62684a4856/share_p.html
https://www.headon.org.au/photo/boxing-against-violence-goma-north-kivu-democratic-republic-congo
Produced by Eliud Aganze, CEO KIVUHUB and Vice-president of RADI BOXING Club/Bukavu and Boxing sport reporter/analyst and promotor.
Contact: eliud@kivuhub.net, https://kivuhub.net @kivuhub on twitter. Tel/WhatsApp: +243973058008
Author: Editor
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