Nollywood actor Charles Okocha has defeated street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, in a dramatic celebrity boxing rematch that ended abruptly after the opening round in Lagos.

The much-anticipated bout, tagged “Unfinished Business”, was held on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of the Chaos in the Ring franchise.

The contest quickly descended into chaos after both men exchanged punches before Portable grabbed Okocha and took him to the canvas.

The referee intervened to separate the pair, while security personnel and bouncers also entered the ring as tensions escalated.

After the fighters were separated and the first round ended, Portable walked out of the ring, leaving the arena as sections of the crowd booed his exit.

He later returned to the ring and appeared to argue that taking Okocha down meant he had won the contest.

Officials, however, ruled that Portable had abandoned the bout and declared Okocha the winner.

“We do have a decision. And due to the fact that Portable abandoned the ring after the first round, we have a winner, Mr. Algorithm, Charles,” the host announced.

The abrupt ending meant there was no conventional round-by-round scoring.

Portable was later seen arguing with members of his corner, insisting that Okocha had not fought fairly.

Rivalry roots

The latest encounter is the second time the two entertainers have settled their differences in the boxing ring, following a public fallout over a disputed business deal in 2023.

Portable had accused Okocha of failing to pay him millions of naira allegedly owed from an event, while Okocha disputed the claim and maintained that there was no formal agreement between them.

Okocha said he had nonetheless transferred ₦5 million to Portable.

The disagreement soon spilled onto social media, with the two entertainers trading accusations before eventually agreeing to settle the matter through a celebrity boxing match.

Their first bout, held at Landmark Beach, Victoria Island, in December 2023, lasted four rounds and ended with Portable being declared the winner.

Okocha subsequently challenged the result, alleging that the contest had been unfair and pointing to an incident involving Portable’s gloves during the third round.

He subsequently activated a rematch clause, setting the stage for their second meeting more than two years later.

Heated build-up

The build-up to Friday’s rematch was marked by the same confrontational energy that had characterised their rivalry.

The two men exchanged threats during interviews, press conferences and face-offs, with Okocha predicting that Portable would not make it beyond two rounds.

Portable, meanwhile, remained confident of repeating his previous victory.

Okocha trained ahead of the contest with heavyweight boxer Moses Itauma, while Portable prepared under boxer Taiwo “Esehpo” Agbaje.

The rematch also came after a difficult outing for Portable in the celebrity boxing circuit.

In May 2026, comedian and content creator Carter Efe defeated the singer by unanimous decision at Chaos in the Ring 4, handing him his first loss in the celebrity boxing series and ending his reign as celebrity boxing champion.

Despite the setback, Portable remained confident ahead of his rematch with Okocha.

“Don’t worry, not if I win. I’m winning this match,” he said in an earlier interview.

The singer also described himself as “the face of boxing in Nigeria” and claimed he had received ₦50 million ahead of the contest, with the total purse reportedly standing at ₦150 million.

Okocha gets his revenge

Friday’s result reversed the outcome of the pair’s first meeting and handed Okocha the bragging rights he had sought since their controversial 2023 encounter.

For Portable, the defeat marks his second consecutive loss in the celebrity boxing circuit.

What began as a dispute over money and escalated through social media has now produced two boxing encounters, with the score between the entertainers levelled at one victory apiece. (Channels TV)

Update news