Anticipation is building for two Kenyan pugilists ahead of the Mandela Cup boxing extravaganza that will officially begin at the Durban International Convention Centre in South Africa on Wednesday.
The enterprising Hit Squad duo of 2022 Africa Boxing Championships silver medalist Elizabeth Andiego and Kenya Defence Forces welterweight champion Friza Anyango will fly the nation's flag in the weeklong slug out.
Andiego and Anyango comprise the competitive roster of 157 boxers from 24 countries eyeing a whopping Sh65 million prize purse pumped into the tournament by the International Boxing Federation (IBA).
The money will be shared by titlists across the 25 weight categories upon the completion of the vicious battle that will officially wrap up on April 21.
In an earlier communique, the Boxing Federation of Kenya had hinted at deploying 14 boxers to the showpiece that had earlier been scheduled to run from October 9-14 last year.
However, the federation only managed to secure two tickets for the annual event owing to a dearth of funds.
Anyango will flex muscles with Gomes Moreira Ivanusa of Cape Verde in the Elite women 63-66kg Welterweight category on Wednesday afternoon.
On the other hand, Andiego will fight the winner of the semifinal about between South African Geanne Dicks and Mozambican Rady Gramane, having received a bye in the preliminary round of the competition.