Boxers begins a quest to win a share of $500,000 in the IBA African Mandela Cup on Monday

The IBA is organising an event in Durban with many renowned boxers for the African Mandela Cup, which will feature many renowned boxers and a substantial prize fund of $500,000 (€468,000).

Durban, in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, will be the epicentre of several nights of top international boxing, as many world championship medallists such as the Mozambican duo of Alcinda Dos Santos and Rady Gramane, among other great boxers, seek glory in the African Mandela Cup, organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA).

Morocco's Khadija Mardi, the world champion in the 81kg category, and Cape Verde's Ivanusa Moreira, the African champion in the 66kg category, will also be taking part. Algeria will field a strong team including two-time African Games champion Roumaysa Boualam (50kg), two-time African champion Ichrak Chaib (63kg) and African champion Hadjila Khelif (60kg).

Mauritius veteran Louis Richarno Colin (63.5kg), Democratic Republic of Congo's Peter Pita (80kg), Zambia's Patrick Chinyemba (51kg) and Mozambique's Tiago Muxanga (71kg) will also be among the standout boxers expected to perform well.

The local South African team comprises a total of 22 boxers who will be looking to thrill the local crowd in the city known for its colonial, African and Indian influences on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The opening ceremony will kick off a grand celebration of African boxing on Monday 15 April, with the semi-finals on Saturday 20 April and the final on Sunday 21 April 2024.

"For Nelson Mandela, boxing was not just a sport, but a way to overcome his most difficult years, a science full of invaluable life lessons and a path to equality," said IBA President Umar Kremlev.

"Let us use Mandela's commitment to boxing as a powerful inspiration for the younger generations and glorify his name through the Mandela Cup and make it a tradition for years to come," said the IBA President.

The launch of the competition coincides with South Africa's celebration of 30 years of freedom and democracy since the historic elections of 27 April 1994. As the people of South Africa celebrate the achievements and milestones of 30 years of democratic governance and living in a free and democratic society, the national boxing community wishes to highlight its achievements and progress in the development of boxing in the country since 1994.

Nelson Mandela, who shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Frederik Willem de Klerk for the peaceful transition from the system of racial segregation that had plagued South Africa for decades, was fond of saying: "My greatest regret in life is that I never became boxing champion of the world".

Today, the IBA provides an opportunity to honour his memory and celebrate the champions of the African Cup, named in honour of the man who brought peace to his homeland after years of discord.