GOMA, Congo (AP) — A punch hits the side of Daniella Muleketsi’s face. She winces at the sting and the crowd holds their breath in fear for their local boxing hopeful.

This is 20-year-old Muleketsi’s first professional fight and takes place in his hometown of Goma in eastern Congo. It’s a mark that will forever be etched in one’s record: a triumphant debut or a bitter loss.

This tournament was organized this weekend by the Nyama Boxing Club to commemorate perhaps the greatest fight of all time. Muhammad Ali came to the central African country and beat the then undefeated George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle” on October 30, 1974, to once again become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

This fight, half a century ago, made Ali a legend. It also offered a glimpse of Congo, then called Zaire and in the hands of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.

As Congo celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Rumble on Wednesday, boxing dreams live on not only in the capital, Kinshasa – where the Ali-Foreman fight took place – but also in grassroots promotions like Nyama’s in Goma, a city at the heart of the Rumble. a region which has seen decades of conflict, displacement and crises.

While this shadow of suffering and difficulties Above almost anything else currently happening in Goma, the boxing tournament drew a surprisingly large and enthusiastic crowd to the open-air arena in the Volcans district.

In the ring, Congolese Muleketsi resisted the blow that had thrown her back and rallied against her more experienced opponent, “Scary” Charity Mukami of Kenya. Mukami is a 12-fight veteran and a former world title contender. Muleketsi cruised his way to a points victory and a victorious professional debut.

The referee raised her right arm as she reveled in the applause and cheers. In her other hand she held a blue, red and yellow Congolese flag.

“My goal is to one day be world champion. I won’t stop working until I get there,” said Muleketsi, who is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 74 kilograms (163 pounds) and started boxing at age 16 under the tutelage of his uncle. , a regional boxing official.

She wasn’t born when Ali beat Foreman but she, like so many Congolese, heard stories about the Rumble in the Jungle.

“The fight of the century between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman inspires all professional boxers,” she said. “I want my name to be recorded in boxing in my country and around the world.”

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