Street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, was disqualified from his celebrity boxing rematch against Nollywood actor Charles Okocha after walking out of the ring before the end of the opening round on Friday.
The contest, tagged Unfinished Business, took place at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, and was organised as a rematch of their controversial first meeting, which Okocha had maintained was wrongly awarded in Portable’s favour.
Portable appeared to be in control during the early exchanges before the bout descended into a wrestling-style scuffle, leaving the referee struggling to separate the two fighters. Security personnel and bodyguards were eventually called in to restore order as the bell sounded to end the opening round.
Amid the confusion, Portable left the ring before officials could resume the contest, prompting jeers from spectators, including fans seated in the VIP section who had gathered for the highly anticipated showdown.
Although efforts were made to persuade the singer to return, officials subsequently disqualified him, awarding victory to Okocha.
Speaking backstage before the bout while holding his son, Portable said, “I am not happy, but I want God to make me happy and my family.”
The result represents a dramatic turnaround from their first meeting, which Portable won. Ahead of the rematch, the singer had confidently declared during the final weigh-in that he remained the superior fighter.
