Clarck Ntambwe’s journey from personal tragedy to resilience through boxing is the focus of a new film set against the backdrop of conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The story, which inspired the feature film *Fight Like a Girl*, chronicles how Ntambwe transformed her pain and anger into strength and purpose, guided by the mentorship of the late Balezi “Kibomango” Bagunda, a former child soldier turned boxing champion.

Clarck Ntambwe originally took up boxing with the intention of avenging her father’s murder. Matthew Leutwyler, the American director who wrote and directed the film, recalled discovering her initial motivation when she joined a women’s boxing gym in Goma, the eastern Congolese city where much of the film is set. Concerned by her desire for revenge, Leutwyler and the gym’s team insisted she adopt a different approach. Under Kibomango’s guidance, Ntambwe redirected her fighting spirit, developing both her skills and her inner resilience. She went on to compete in the African Boxing Championships, reaching the finals, while also making her acting debut in *Fight Like a Girl*, portraying Aisha, a central figure in the gym.

Kibomango, who founded the women’s boxing club in Goma and served as Ntambwe’s mentor, was a former child soldier who had survived deep personal trauma. Forced into combat at age 12, he lost an eye to a grenade explosion before ultimately leaving his violent past to pursue boxing internationally. His life story emerged from conversations with Leutwyler, who encountered him while filming a documentary. Tragically, Kibomango was killed by M23 rebels shortly after the film’s completion, during a mission to evacuate children from a conflict zone in eastern Congo.

Leutwyler, who has lived in Africa for more than a decade, described their unlikely but close friendship and his admiration for Kibomango’s commitment to empowering vulnerable women through boxing. Many of the gym’s fighters were survivors of sexual violence, and boxing became a means of reclaiming independence and rebuilding lives.

The film features a blend of professional actors and local residents from Goma, lending authenticity to the portrayal of the struggles and triumphs faced by Congolese women. Ama Qamata, a South African actor known for her role in the Netflix series *Blood & Water*, plays the lead role and trained intensively for the boxing scenes under Kibomango’s watchful eye. Qamata described his rigorous coaching style and her initial fear of physical contact, which evolved into respect for the sport and a deeper understanding of its significance to women like Ntambwe.

Now living in Seattle, Ntambwe acknowledges that her first reason for boxing was driven by anger and a desire for revenge, but over time the sport became a source of healing and self-empowerment. While she misses boxing and follows the sport closely, citing champions like Claressa Shields as inspiration, she notes the financial barriers to continuing in the United States.

*Fight Like a Girl* presents a powerful narrative of recovery and resilience, illustrating how boxing helped Ntambwe and other women affected by violence and conflict forge new paths forward. Through their stories, the film challenges stereotypes and highlights the strength born from struggle.