The buildup to the 'Chaos in the Ring 4' boxing event took a dramatic turn this week as social media stars Habeeb 'Portable' Badmus and Carter Efe exchanged sharp words. The event is scheduled to take place today at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Portable, who has previously defeated Charles Okocha and Speed Darlington in celebrity exhibition bouts to claim two belts, made it clear that he intends to add Efe to his list of victims. 'I will beat Efe like a baby,' he boasted confidently.
An unmoved Efe dismissed Portable's record and warned that the bout would be brief. 'You can't beat me. You are scared of me. When we meet in the ring, I will beat you. One punch and you fall,' he fired back.
Main Event Heats Up
In the main event, Ezra Arenyeka and Godday Appah also exchanged hot words. Their bout is billed as a symbolic WBO Peace Fight between the Itsekiri and Ijaw communities of the Niger Delta. Appah was unsparing in his assessment of what awaited his opponent. 'We were friends but there is no friendship in the ring. Right now, I am fighting for my belt, for my people and for the win. He knows who the king is. I am here for the knockout — this is war. You will not survive six rounds with me,' he said.
Arenyeka replied without hesitation: 'I am going to break your head. You said six rounds — I will beat you in five. You will sleep in the ring.'
Other Fighters Add Flavor
Ghana's Elvis Ahorgah and Newcastle's Joe Laws also added their own flavor to the proceedings. Ahorgah delivered his threats in rhyme in the manner of Muhammad Ali, while Laws painted his face in the colors of the Nigerian flag in a bid to win over the home crowd against a fighter from a rival nation.
British southpaw Michael McKinson, whose father is of Nigerian descent, also features on the card against Algerian prospect Mohammad Sahnoun. McKinson said he was looking forward to making a statement while soaking in the Nigerian culture.
Promoter's Vision
Balmoral Group Promotions CEO Ezekiel Adamu said the face-offs reflect the broader ambition behind the event. 'It is entertainment, but I want these young guys to trust me that the world is watching. When you have a platform like this, it changes lives. This is what it is all about for us: giving these guys the opportunity and visibility and showing the best of African boxing. It is wartime and let's show the world what we have to offer here in Africa,' he said.
