Furious after being disqualified from his celebrity boxing rematch at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Portable alleged on Instagram that Charles Okocha sank his teeth into his back during the opening round, prompting him to abandon the ring. The singer, whose real name is Habeeb Okikiola, was later ruled to have quit the contest, handing victory to Okocha.
The bout, promoted as “Unfinished Business” under the Chaos in the Ring celebrity boxing series, was held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday. It descended into chaos almost immediately as both entertainers exchanged heavy punches before grappling and crashing to the canvas. Portable then walked out of the ring, only to return later, but the referee had already decided the matter.
Allegation of a Bite
In a series of videos and posts shared on his official Instagram account, Portable rejected any notion that he had lost fairly. He insisted that Okocha had bitten him during the scuffle and called on his team and fans to inspect the marks on his back.
“I am a star. I was bitten. As I blew him, Okocha put his hand on my back and bit me. My fans, I am a musician; my music is okay. It’s the extra doing that makes people fight. Come and remove my clothes to see what is on my back,” he told his trainer in one of the clips.
Portable also defended his decision to take part, stating that he personally chose Okocha as his opponent and was paid for the appearance. “I am the one who chooses who to fight. I collected money. I am your brand, I am the one promoting you. My trainer trained me. You are not meant to use your teeth to fight,” he said.
Claims of Dominance
Far from admitting defeat, Portable boasted that he had been in complete control of the fight before deciding to stop. “Don’t joke with me, I am a star. Charles Okocha, the biter. Nigeria, America, Canada, Russia, everyone, do you know why I stopped the fight? He held me and bit me. Man to man, I finished him. I beat him mercilessly. I gave him several blows. It’s a fight they said we should fight, not bite,” he asserted.
The singer repeatedly branded Okocha “the biter” and insisted his actions violated the spirit of the contest. He addressed an international audience, referencing Nigeria, America, Canada and Russia, to underline the gravity of his accusation. As of the time of filing this report, Okocha had not yet issued any public response.
Background to a Long-Running Feud
Friday’s rematch was originally intended to settle a bitter rivalry that dates back to December 2023, when the two entertainers first met in the boxing ring. On that occasion, Portable was declared the winner. Okocha, however, disputed the outcome and repeatedly called for a rematch, which finally materialised under the Chaos in the Ring banner.
The latest encounter, however, failed to provide clarity. Instead of a definitive winner, the night ended with accusations, disqualification and an apology from Portable’s camp.
Management Issues Apology
In the aftermath, Portable’s management released a statement via his manager, Olawale Sarah, on Instagram, apologising to the event organisers, Balmoral Group, the event team and all fans who attended. The statement also sought to address the disappointment caused by the singer’s decision to step away after the first round.
“We sincerely apologise to the organisers, Balmoral Group, the entire event team, our fans, friends, family, and everyone who came out to support Portable at tonight’s celebrity boxing event,” the statement read. “We understand the disappointment caused by the outcome of the fight and by Portable’s decision to step away after the first round. While emotions can run high in moments like these, we respectfully ask everyone to respect his decision and perspective.”
The management added, “We have taken note of the feedback, and we are committed to learning from this experience. We promise to come back stronger and do better next time.”
Unresolved Controversy
Event organisers have since affirmed that Portable’s departure constituted abandonment, leading to his disqualification and Okocha’s victory. Yet the dispute is far from over, with Portable firmly sticking to his biting allegation and his fans rallying behind him on social media.
The incident has reignited debates about the professionalism of celebrity boxing events and the conduct of the personalities involved. Whether this will lead to a third fight or simply fizzle out remains to be seen. For now, the onus is on both parties to address the gravity of the situation and provide clarity to their supporters.
