Street-hip-hop artiste, Habeeb ‘Portable’ Badmus and actor Charles Okocha are set to renew their celebrity boxing rivalry on July 31 after a fiery press conference for Chaos in the Ring 4 descended into chaos on Tuesday at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Punch reported that the rematch was confirmed by Balmoral Group Promotions CEO, Ezekiel Adamu, who revealed that Okocha exercised a rematch clause following their first bout, which Portable won by unanimous decision.
“They fought before. Charles wants a rematch. He activated a rematch clause. So, we expected that, and we will make it happen,” Adamu said.
As expected, Portable made a dramatic entrance and immediately turned his attention to his former opponent, vowing another victory.
“You that I have beaten before, I will break your bones. Fight is coming,” he said.
Okocha responded with equal intensity, insisting their previous encounter did not reflect his true ability and warning Portable of what lies ahead.
“Let me tell you something, I will kill you in the ring. I am fearless. We will see who the man is on the 31st of July. Everyone knows the first one was not a real fight, but this time it is the real deal. And he will not survive two rounds if he finds a way to escape me in the first round,” he said.
The heated exchange soon escalated beyond words. Tensions boiled over after a soda was thrown, sparking a scuffle that saw punches exchanged and chairs hurled across the venue before security personnel stepped in to restore order.
The disorder extended beyond the headline bout as street-pop stars Mr Real, born Okafor Victor, and Idowest, whose real name is Adekunle Idowu, reignited their long-standing social media feud during the event.
Both men traded verbal jabs ahead of their scheduled contest, with Idowest boldly predicting a quick victory.
Another tense confrontation unfolded between WBO Africa cruiserweight champion Godday Appah and challenger Lekan “The Engine” Muibi, forcing security operatives to intervene before the situation got out of hand.
“I came all the way to the city of Lagos not for friendly talk. I am nobody’s friend. I am here to fight for what I stand for. I am the big dog here. He has to get some bouts, or else he will be beaten out. He must not disrespect me. I am here to fight, and I am here for violence. This is who I am made for,” Appah said.
When Muibi attempted to address the gathering, Appah repeatedly interrupted him, prompting the challenger to hit back.
“Can you stop making noise and let me speak? The last time you challenged me, you insulted me, and I will see how long you will last in the ring. I always respect my opponents, and I still respect him, but he has taken it to the next level. As I said, he is going to learn the hard way.”
The July 31 fight night will feature several high-profile bouts, including Taiwo “Esehpo” Agbaje against South African boxer Ayabonga Sonjika, Mr Real versus Idowest, the Portable-Okocha rematch, Appah’s title defence against Muibi, and Rilwan Lawal’s clash with Yusuf Adeniji.
Discussing Agbaje’s upcoming contest, Adamu disclosed that Sonjika was not initially the preferred opponent.
“We had a few opponents. The Nigerian chickened out, the Mexican did too. But as soon as he saw the South African, he rushed for the option, so it was not just the belt but also the political tension that influenced it,” Adamu said.
Agbaje, however, expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious.
“I am 100 per cent ready to beat the South African when the fight comes. I am not happy about all I have seen. I am going to stop him within four rounds. He is going to be knocked out. The revenge is coming on July 31. The one thing I always say is I work hard in the gym, and I will make it happen in the ring. I also want the belt, so it is all extra motivation for me to beat him,” he said.
In another featured contest, Adeniji said friendship and respect would not prevent him from pursuing victory against veteran boxer Rilwan Lawal.
“I am thankful to Dr E for putting me on the card, and I will do my thing. I know I will win, and I know him since I was an amateur. I respect him a lot, but I just feel it is time to end his career, and I can help him,” Adeniji said.
Lawal dismissed concerns over his age and insisted he remains a force in the ring.
“I am ready for the fight. He is a champion, and I won’t underrate him, but I am a multiple-time champion, and it is my time, so I must smoke him. Age is just a number. I may be older, but if I see a chance, I’ll take it. When we get to the ring, I’ll show him I’m not yet close to retirement,” he said.
Adamu also announced that fans who cannot attend the event in person will still be able to follow the action through live broadcasts.
“If you can’t watch the fight at the location, stream it. It will be shown on DAZN and on our local channels as well,” he said.
