Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo, the aggressive Interim President of the Africa Boxing Confederation wing opposed to Eyassu Berhanu’s leadership in the troubled African boxing body, has reacted angrily with a barrage of punches aimed at Berhanu who has dismissed the January 24 AFBC Pro Boxing card in Tunisia as an illegality. He warns national federations of dire consequences if their boxers participate in the Tunisia boxing show.
Luyoyo has, however, laughed off Berhanu’s threats, likening him to a punch-drunk boxer throwing punches with both eyes closed. He challenged Berhanu to state what he has done for African boxing since winning the elections on a walkover in 2023, other than creating disunity in national federations.
“We’re planning to organise tournaments to benefit our African boxers without relying on IBA support but Eyassu is against this progress, he tried to sabotage Africa Championships in Kinshasa last year telling countries not to participate but he failed, what does he want now,” wondered Luyoyo.
Luyoyo went on: “He told us he’s a billionaire, he’ll use his own money to support African boxing (But) we’ve not seen this happening, he has not brought a single sponsor on board despite bragging he’s well connected. Instead, the so called billionaire is shamelessly relying on IBA to fund his activities.”
Luyoyo’s letter addressed to AFBC affiliates and IBA reads:
“Dear Presidents and Secretary Generals, I am writing to you to denounce and refute the content of the latest correspondence sent to you and the Tunisian Government by Mr. Eyassu which aima to sow doubt and confusion around the organisation of the Professional Boxing Gala that the AFBC is staging in Tunis on January 24, 2025 to celebrate friendship, solidarity and brotherhood between members of the African boxing family.
“The Tunis Gala is the result of the will of the majority of the federations present at the AFBC Extraordinary Congress in Dubai on December 6, 2024, and subsequently validated by the AFBC Board of Directors at its meeting held the day after the said Congress. The modalities of execution had been put in place by the AFBC Competitions Commission, the body that ultimately authorizes our competitions.
“I am rather surprised and astonished by the stubbornness of Mr. Eyassu who continues to present himself as president of the AFBC. I would like to remind you that this gentleman lost the confidence of the majority of National Federations during their meeting held in Kinshasa on October 24, 2024 in a solemn declaration and confirmed by a decision of the AFBC Extraordinary Congress held in Dubai on December 6, 2024.
“l note that he is observing the same attitude as that displayed on the eve of the African Championships we successfully organised in Kinshasa from October 16 to 27, 2024. This is proof that Mr. Eyassu is not there for the good of boxing. He systematically opposes the organisation of boxing competitions when he himself is incapable of doing so and will hide behind the competitions organised by the IBA to justify his catastrophic record. We remember that he declared the African Championship in Kinshasa illegal and advocated its boycott, but in the end the IBA officially recognised this well-organised tournament in its annual report at the Congress on December 7, 2024 in Dubai.
“I therefore ask you not to allow yourselves to be distracted by this gentleman who continues to act against the regulatory principles that govern our noble sport because the authorities empowered to manage sporting conflicts and violations will now deal with him.”
In his letter to the National Federations, Berhanu warned them of disciplinary action if their boxers participate in the January 24 AFBC Pro Boxing card in Tunis.
He said Luyoyo and his team have no legal mandate to organise any boxing event in Africa.
Berhanu’s letter to all AFBC affiliates dated January 14, 2025, states they have not sanctioned the Tunisia event being organised under Luyoyo’s leadership.
In addition to all NFs, Berhanu’s letter is copied to IBA, AFBC Officials Committee, Coaches Committee, boxers, Ministry of Youth and Sports and Tunisia Boxing Federation.
The letter states in part: “Article 44.1 of the constitution stipulates that any boxing competition must adhere to IBA technical regulations. This unauthorised event does not meet these standards.
“Therefore participation in this event is strictly forbidden. Member federations must comply with this directive issued by the AFBC. Failure to comply with this decision will result in disciplinary action including loss of privileges as outlined in Article 10.1(d) of the constitution which mandates the forfeiture of participation rights in AFBC and IBA-sanctioned events.”
Ring analysts are of the opinion the International Boxing Association (IBA) has taken too long to contain this sad state of affairs in African boxing, and that it’s now the right time they move in swiftly to sort out the mess once and for all with a stinging sucker punch.
The big rift in AFBC is not only between Berhanu and Luyoyo but it has spread to the Board of Directors, the important decision-making organ of the AFBC with some board members supporting Berhanu and others on Luyoyo’s side.
In the wake of this senseless antagonism, the AFBC has not achieved much, organising only one tournament last year – the Africa Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
As the AFBC officials continue to engage in their selfish and shameful power struggle, their counterparts in Asia, Europe and Americas are busy staging their own big tournaments in a seamless organisation of activities under steady, mature and sound management with sponsors to boot as African boxers remain starved of regular and money-spinning competitions occasioned by incompetent leadership.
Meanwhile, the Tunis 10-bout card will be headlined by three-time Africa champion, Pita Kabeji of DR Congo taking on Tunisia’s Mohamed Riahi in a six-round cruiserweight main fight.
Two other African champions from DR Congo, female flyweight Nyembo Gisele and middleweight David Tshama are also in the mix. Gisele meets Tunisia’s 29-year-old 2017 Africa Championships bronze medallist Amel Chebbi and Tshama battles Libya’s Asim Dawku.
In some of the other bouts, Mauritius’ celebrated two-time Olympian and 2019 African Games champion Merven Clair has a date with Togo’s Kokou De Souza at light-middleweight, Tanzania’s light-welterweight King Lucas Mwajobaga will fight Angola’s Liduema Elder with Uganda’s middleweight Ojok Alfred clashing with Tunisia’s Hamza Ghazouani.
The men’s bouts will be six rounders of three minutes and five rounds of two minutes each for female boxers.
Credit: Boxers World Kenya
You must be logged in to post a comment.