Nollywood actor Charles Okocha finally got his long-awaited revenge over street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, winning their celebrity boxing rematch by disqualification on Friday, 31 July, 2026. The bout took place at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, and was promoted as "Unfinished Business" under the Chaos in the Ring franchise. It came more than two years after their first encounter in December 2023, when Portable won at Landmark Beach in the same area of Lagos.
Fight Descends Into Chaos
The contest began at a frantic pace, with both entertainers exchanging punches before it quickly descended into a grappling contest. Portable grabbed Okocha and took him to the canvas, prompting the referee to intervene and separate the pair. Security personnel and bouncers also entered the ring as the confrontation threatened to spiral further. After the fighters were separated and the round came to an end, Portable unexpectedly walked out of the ring, leaving the arena amid boos from sections of the crowd.
He later returned and appeared to argue that taking Okocha to the canvas meant he had won the bout. Officials, however, did not accept the claim. Portable was subsequently ruled to have abandoned the contest, with Okocha declared the winner by disqualification. "We do have a decision. And because Portable abandoned the ring after the first round, we have a winner, Mr Algorithm, Charles," the host announced. There was no conventional round-by-round scoring because the bout ended after the opening round. Portable was also seen arguing with members of his corner after leaving the ring, insisting that Okocha had not fought fairly.
The unusual ending drew mixed reactions from the crowd, with some fans booing Portable for what they perceived as an early exit. The fight officials eventually confirmed the decision, handing Okocha a victory that had seemed unlikely after the chaotic opening exchanges.
Money Dispute Sparked the Feud
The rivalry between the entertainers dates back to a disputed business deal that triggered a public fallout in 2023. Portable accused Okocha of withholding money from an event and alleged that he was owed millions of naira. Okocha, however, disputed the claim, maintaining that there was no formal agreement between them and that he had transferred ₦5 million to Portable after the event. The disagreement escalated online, with both parties trading accusations on social media, before the pair eventually agreed to settle their differences in the boxing ring.
Their first fight, sanctioned by Heritage Boxing Entertainment, lasted four rounds and ended with Portable being declared the winner. The contest, which began shortly after 1 a.m., lasted about 40 minutes. Okocha subsequently disputed the outcome, describing the bout as rigged and citing an incident in which he alleged Portable removed his gloves during the third round. He called for a rematch, which was later activated.
Rematch Finally Confirmed
The long-awaited rematch was eventually scheduled for July 31, 2026, as one of the headline attractions of Chaos in the Ring. Promoters described it as an opportunity for both entertainers to settle their "unfinished business finally". The build-up to the rematch was as heated as the rivalry itself, with both men exchanging threats during press conferences, interviews and face-offs. Okocha predicted that Portable would not last beyond two rounds, while Portable remained confident that he would repeat his earlier victory.
To prepare for the bout, Okocha trained with heavyweight boxer Moses Itauma, while Portable sharpened his skills under boxer Taiwo "Esehpo" Agbaje. The rematch also came at a crucial point in Portable's celebrity boxing run, as the singer had suffered his first defeat in the celebrity boxing circuit in May 2026, when content creator Carter Efe beat him by unanimous decision at Chaos in the Ring 4. That loss ended Portable's reign as celebrity boxing champion, making the rematch an important opportunity for him to bounce back.
Portable's Bold Predictions
Despite the setback against Carter Efe, Portable had remained confident ahead of the Okocha rematch, declaring in an earlier interview, "Don't worry, not if I win. I'm winning this match." He had also described himself as "the face of boxing in Nigeria" and claimed he had received ₦50 million ahead of the bout, with a total purse of ₦150 million. These statements added extra spice to an already explosive matchup, with fans eagerly anticipating a decisive end to the rivalry.
Revenge Achieved, Record Damaged
The rematch produced a different outcome from their first meeting. Okocha emerged victorious, handing Portable another setback and settling a rivalry that had moved from social media arguments and allegations of financial impropriety to two celebrity boxing encounters. The result gives Okocha the bragging rights he had sought since his controversial defeat to Portable in 2023, while Portable now has consecutive losses in the celebrity boxing ring, following his earlier defeat to Carter Efe.
The victory also underscored the growing popularity of celebrity boxing in Nigeria, with events like Chaos in the Ring drawing significant attention from fans across the entertainment and sports worlds. For Okocha, it was a personal redemption; for Portable, it was another blow to his self-proclaimed status as the face of the sport.
