Controversial street-pop singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has explained why he walked out of the ring during his celebrity boxing rematch against Nollywood actor Charles Okocha, insisting that he was unfairly treated during the contest.
The singer claimed that Okocha abandoned boxing rules by resorting to wrestling and even biting him, leaving him with injuries that forced him to quit the fight.
Portable made the allegations in a video posted on his Instagram page on Saturday, just hours after he was disqualified from the much-publicised bout held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The celebrity boxing contest, tagged “Unfinished Business,” attracted a large crowd of fans and entertainment lovers who had eagerly awaited another showdown between the two celebrities following the controversy surrounding their first meeting.
However, what was expected to be an exciting rematch ended in confusion after Portable walked out of the ring before the end of the opening round, leading officials to disqualify him and award victory to Okocha.
In the video posted after the contest, Portable displayed wounds on his back and other parts of his body, insisting that he suffered injuries during the fight.
While pointing to marks on his body, the singer alleged that Okocha bit him during the contest.
“They said he eats Molly. He didn’t see Molly anymore. So he ate my back,” Portable said while displaying the injury.
He maintained that the actor abandoned boxing techniques and instead wrestled him throughout the contest.
“Man, he bit me. I landed a heavy hit on him,” the singer declared.
Portable insisted that despite the official result, he had the upper hand in the fight before the incident that led to his exit from the ring.
According to him, he landed more punches than Okocha and had already done enough to prove he was the better fighter.
“Normally, I beat him up. Man to man, one man is tougher than another. I dealt him a huge blow,” he said.
Explaining why he decided to leave the ring, the singer said he no longer wanted to participate in celebrity boxing because his music career was worth far more than any prize money attached to such events.
“He bit me, number one. He choked my neck. Camera it. That’s why I say I don’t fight again. I’m big! I’m bigger than the money! I’m a star!” he said.
Portable also claimed he fulfilled a promise he made before the fight by delivering at least 10 punches to his opponent.
According to him, he had entered the ring expecting to finish the contest in just one round.
“I wore one-round cloth to the bout. I wanted to beat him in one round,” he said while addressing his followers.
The dramatic ending of the fight has continued to generate reactions on social media, where videos from the contest have been widely shared.
Eyewitness videos showed that Portable appeared to dominate parts of the opening exchanges before the contest became untidy.
Instead of clean punches, both men became locked in a wrestling-style struggle, making it difficult for the referee to control the action.
The official repeatedly tried to separate both fighters as the bout descended into chaos.
Security personnel and bodyguards also moved into the ring area after the opening round to restore order and prevent the situation from getting out of hand.
Portable later returned to the ring after walking away, but officials ruled that he had abandoned the contest and subsequently disqualified him, handing victory to Okocha.
The defeat marked a significant turnaround from their previous meeting.
Their first celebrity boxing contest ended in controversy after Charles Okocha claimed the result, which favoured Portable, was unfair and should not have stood.
The disagreement between both entertainers led organisers to arrange a rematch under the title “Unfinished Business,” with the expectation that it would finally settle the rivalry.
In the days leading up to Friday night’s contest, both celebrities engaged in intense exchanges on social media and during promotional events.
At the final weigh-in, Portable confidently declared that he remained the better fighter and predicted another victory over Okocha.
The singer also told journalists before entering the ring that he hoped the contest would bring happiness to him and his family.
“I am not happy, but I want God to make me happy and my family,” he had said before the fight.
Despite his confidence, events inside the ring did not go as planned.
While Portable believes he was the victim of foul play, officials ruled against him because he left the ring before the end of the contest.
As of the time of filing this report, Charles Okocha had not publicly responded to Portable’s latest allegations that he bit and wrestled him during the fight.
The organisers of the event have also not issued any statement indicating whether they intend to review the contest or respond to the singer’s complaints.
Celebrity boxing has become increasingly popular in Nigeria in recent years, bringing together entertainers, comedians, musicians and social media personalities in exhibition fights designed mainly for entertainment.
Although such contests attract large audiences and widespread attention online, they have also been criticised for sometimes lacking the discipline and technical standards associated with professional boxing.
Friday night’s contest once again highlighted the challenges organisers face in controlling highly emotional celebrity rivals inside the ring.
The clash between Portable and Okocha was one of the most talked-about entertainment events of the week, with clips from the bout quickly going viral across social media platforms.