Street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has explained why he walked out of his highly anticipated celebrity boxing rematch against Nollywood actor Charles Okocha, insisting he was bitten and choked during the chaotic bout.
The rematch, tagged “Unfinished Business,” took place on Friday at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. What was expected to settle their long-running rivalry quickly descended into disorder. The fighters exchanged punches before the contest turned into a wrestling-style scramble, with the referee and security personnel struggling to separate them. Portable eventually left the ring before the first round concluded and was disqualified, handing victory to Okocha.
Speaking after the fight, Portable claimed Okocha abandoned proper boxing and attacked him unfairly.
“He bit me. I landed a heavy hit on him. Normally, I beat him up. Man to man, one man is tougher than the other. I dealt him a huge blow.”
He went further, displaying marks on his back and body while alleging multiple people joined the assault.
“He bit me, number one. He choked my neck. Get it on camera. That’s why I said I wasn’t fighting again. I’m big! I’m bigger than the money! I’m a star!” Portable declared.
He also claimed he had prepared for a quick finish, saying:
“I wore one-round cloth to the bout. I wanted to beat him in one round.”
In another colourful remark, he added:
“They said he eats Molly. He didn’t see Molly anymore. So he ate my back.”
The bout was a rematch of their first encounter in December 2023, which Portable won. Okocha had insisted that earlier result was unfair and invoked a rematch clause. Portable entered the fight looking to bounce back after a recent loss to content creator Carter Efe earlier this year.
Read Brutal Beatdown! — Carter Efe Destroys Portable In Ring
Following the controversial ending and public backlash, Portable’s management, Zeh Nation/Dr Zeh, issued a formal apology.
“We sincerely apologise to the organisers, Balmoral Group, the entire event team, our fans, friends, family, and everyone who came out to support Portable at tonight’s celebrity boxing event,” the statement read.
The management accepted responsibility for the disappointment and asked the public to respect Portable’s decision, noting that emotions often run high in such moments. They also promised to learn from the experience and return stronger.
Portable’s dramatic walkout has sparked widespread debate among fans, with some supporting his claims of foul play and others criticising him for abandoning the fight.