The weigh-in for the highly anticipated “Chaos In The Ring” boxing event descended into a spectacle of verbal sparring and physical tension on Thursday as controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, and his rival, Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, traded fierce insults and threats, promising a brutal showdown at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos today (Friday).
While other boxers participating in the event underwent their weigh-ins with relative calm, punctuated only by standard pre-fight taunts, the atmosphere crackled with animosity when the two celebrity combatants stepped onto the scales.
Portable and Speed Darlington engaged in a brief but intense mini-tussle that required the intervention of bouncers to separate them. Following the confrontation, Portable, seemingly unfazed, showcased his boxing skills with a display of shadow boxing.
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“You better say you’re not fighting again. I just came out of prison, I’m a former prisoner, and they’ve cut my hair. It’s all the bad side of my life that they cut away. I have already won this fight,” Portable aggressively taunted his opponent, referencing his recent release after Fuji star Saheed Osupa withdrew a cyber stalking case against him.
The “Zazuu” crooner further boasted about his street fighting background and the financial incentive for his victory.
“I am a street fighter, and they (Balmoral) paid me money to beat you, so I will beat you. I am sorry in advance. If you think it is because I just left prison, forget that, I will beat you. You are a mosquito, and a mosquito can’t beat a lion,” he declared with characteristic bravado.
This fiery exchange comes weeks after Portable publicly stated his desire to fight former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua for a staggering N100 million, dismissing Speed Darlington as an “unworthy opponent.”
Speed Darlington responded with equal venom, meeting Portable’s aggression head-on. “You can’t beat me, let’s go now! Nothing can happen.
It is here that they will wipe your blood, just show up tomorrow. I will take your belt home with me,” he retorted. “I will bring the coffin for you and bury you in it after I beat you. You can’t compare Charles to me, he is a father and he is old, no worry.”
The bitter feud between the two artists reportedly ignited when Speed Darlington allegedly offered Portable a sum of N500,000 to perform at his event, an offer Portable deemed insulting.
Amidst the celebrity chaos, Nigerian Boxing Board of Control Chairman, Rafiu Ladipo, present at the weigh-in, underscored the critical importance of proper medical procedures before professional boxing matches.
His comments were a stark reminder of the recent tragic death of boxer Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju in Ghana, whom the NBBofC stated did not undergo mandatory medicals in Accra.
“There are two doctors here doing the medicals for all these boxers before the fight tomorrow. This is what they should have done in Ghana, so we are saying it again that 24 hours before every professional boxing fight, all boxers should have medicals and weigh-in,” Ladipo emphasized.
The “Chaos In The Ring” event, organized by Game Rush and Balmoral Promotions, follows their successful previous tournaments and promises a night of boxing action featuring elite fighters from six countries alongside the highly anticipated celebrity clash.
Nigerian boxing sensation Basit “Jokerboy” Adebayo is also set to fight for the World Boxing Organization Youth International lightweight title against Tanzanian challenger Suleiman Sheha on the card.
Portable has prior experience in celebrity boxing, having defeated Nollywood actor Charles Okocha in December 2023. With both Portable and Speed Darlington having successfully completed their medicals and weigh-ins, the stage is set for what promises to be an explosive and unpredictable encounter in the ring tonight.
