Former Big Brother Naija housemate Venita Akpofure has sharply responded to co-star Cross Okonkwo after he publicly suggested she face fellow alumna Phyna in a celebrity boxing match. The exchange unfolded on X (formerly Twitter), where Cross tagged Venita directly and floated the idea of a ring showdown between two women he described as equally formidable.
Cross Proposes Boxing Match, Venita Responds
Cross wrote: "Venita Akpofure, would you like to fight Phyna? Two strong women. I will definitely pay anything to watch this boxing ring." Venita, however, was not amused. Instead of playing along, she turned the challenge back on Cross with a pointed response: "If you suddenly have an appetite to see a woman being punched, please send your wife into a boxing ring."
Stung by the blowback, Cross quickly clarified that the whole thing was meant in good fun. "Lol, we are not strangers. I dey play with you," he replied. That appeared to thaw the mood. Venita then lightened up considerably, tagging both Cross and Phyna in a follow-up that leaned into the humour: "@crossdabossike @unusualphyna Oh Chim. I don enter hot soup. Abeg epp me tell madam sorry ? as I no fit fight you myself."
Phyna's Boxing Deal Controversy with Ashmusy
The banter played out against a backdrop of genuine controversy surrounding Phyna. Hours earlier, the Level Up winner had called out socialite Ashmusy over an alleged attempt to undermine a multi-million-naira celebrity boxing deal she had secured. According to Phyna, a boxing organisation had approached her and asked her to name celebrities she would be willing to face in the ring; she picked Ashmusy. Phyna then alleged that Ashmusy turned around and lobbied the company to remove her from the arrangement entirely.
Ashmusy pushed back on the accusation, insisting she never asked anyone to drop her name from the deal and did not work against Phyna's interests in any way.
BBNaija Community Reacts to the Exchange
The entire episode has kept the BBNaija community talking, with Cross's playful tagging of Venita adding an unexpected, lighter dimension to what had been a fairly heated public row. The exchange, which went viral on social media, has sparked mixed reactions from fans, with some praising Venita's quick wit and others seeing Cross's original post as harmless banter. As of now, no official boxing match has been confirmed between Venita and Phyna, and the controversy over Phyna's deal with Ashmusy remains unresolved.
