France’s Olympic boxing champion Tony Yoka denies nationality switch claim

France’s 2016 Olympic boxing champion Tony Yoka denied on Tuesday he was switching allegiance to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country of his father’s birth, as he had suggested he was doing hours earlier.

“There is no question of me changing my sporting nationality,” the 33-year-old heavyweight said in a video posted on Instagram.

Yoka went to the DRC a few days ago, before posting on X his ambition to represent the country in 2028.

“I am proud to shine a light on the Democratic Republic of Congo in the eyes of the world,” he wrote late on Monday, accompanied by a photograph of his Congolese boxing licence.

“Also to be able to honour my word and pay homage to the minister (for Sport in the DRC), Didier Budimbu, who has instilled confidence in me for this adventure.”

Yoka, who has a professional record of 15 victories and three defeats, shared a post by Budimbu, who said the boxer is “targeting Olympic gold for the DRC”.

Budimbu added Yoka will “carry the Congolese flag into the ring with a national license” and “train tomorrow’s elite in a dedicated academy” as well as promote the country’s brand.

Yoka clarified in his Instagram video what Budimbu meant regarding opening an academy in Kinshasa.

“This is to bring together Congolese youth and to accompany them to the highest level of boxing, which is the Olympics,” he said.

Yoka, who met DRC president Felix Tshisekedi according to photographs published by Budimbu, is on a run of four successive victories and is slated to next fight in April.

Yoka explained it was to relaunch his professional career that he had taken out the Congolese federation license, for “the fight I must have in the DRC at the end of the year”.

Published on Feb 24, 2026