The official press conference for Chaos in the Ring’s Independence Day card descended into disorder on Tuesday at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton, Ikeja, Lagos, as skit maker Carter Efe and rapper Speed Darlington traded threats ahead of their 1 October bout.
The event took a dramatic turn when a birthday cake presented to Efe was kicked to the ground by Speed Darlington during their confrontation.
The face-off also featured heated exchanges between reality TV star Phyna and actress Nkechi Blessing, while a brief fire broke out after firecrackers set off by members of Efe’s entourage ignited part of the venue. The fire was quickly put out with extinguishers.
Efe opened his confrontation with Speed Darlington by questioning the rapper’s decision to challenge him after Efe defeated Habeeb “Portable” Badmus in May.
“Speed Darlington, are you insane? You want to fight me when you could not beat Portable. You should not be in the ring with me at all, and that is why I will beat you,” Efe said.
He also addressed criticism over his previous comments about singer Wizkid, insisting that his remarks were part of entertainment and were not intended as disrespect.
“Some people think me calling out Wizkid is disrespectful too, but it is not. It is entertainment. It is not disrespectful. I do not know why people think that. It is a sport, and we will entertain fans and make money,” he added.
Speed Darlington responded by warning Efe about the belt he won after defeating Portable.
“Be careful with that belt. Your belt is mine. Do not scratch it now,” he said.
The confrontation between Phyna and Nkechi Blessing was equally intense, with the actress warning her opponent ahead of their bout.
“I will beat you. You won’t do it again. This disrespect is too much. I am three million per cent prepared for the fight. My body is ready,” Nkechi Blessing said.
She added that she was eager to settle their differences in the ring on 1 October.
Phyna responded in similar fashion, promising to attack Nkechi Blessing during the bout.
“I go break your head. We will see in the ring. I go make you faint. Any small thing, respect, respect. I go disrespect you for ring. If you stand up after second round, change my name,” she said in pidgin.
Founder of Chaos in the Ring and Balmoral Group Promotions, Dr Ezekiel Adamu, said the rivalry between Phyna and Nkechi Blessing appeared to have become personal.
“I think it has become personal. It was personal before. I think it has become really personal now. We saw Carter and Speedy as well. It is going to be very crazy chaos,” Adamu said.
He said the intensity of the exchanges had gone beyond what the organisers expected at the press conference.
“I think it is going to be a war. I think Nkechi is really pissed. She cannot wait to get her hands on Phyna now, and I think Speedy as well, too, based on the stunt that Carter just pulled. I think it is going to be a proper war,” he added.
The 1 October event will be headlined by Godday Appah’s defence of his WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship against Ghanaian boxer Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah.
The undercard will also feature Efe against Speed Darlington and Phyna against Nkechi Blessing.
Efe goes into his bout against Speed Darlington following his unanimous decision victory over Portable at the same venue in May. The victory earned him a promised ₦50 million reward from businessman Emeka “E-Money” Okonkwo.
