Charles Okocha gets revenge against Portable in celebrity boxing rematch
What started as a bitter dispute over money has finally come full circle in the boxing ring, with Nollywood actor Charles Okocha exacting revenge against street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable.
Okocha defeated Portable in their much-anticipated celebrity boxing rematch on Friday, 31 July, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The contest, billed as "Unfinished Business" under the Chaos in the Ring franchise, marked the pair's second meeting after Portable claimed victory in their first bout at Landmark Beach, Victoria Island, in December 2023.
The rematch began at an intense pace, with both fighters exchanging punches before the contest quickly turned into a grappling battle.
Portable grabbed Okocha and forced him to the canvas, prompting the referee to intervene. As tensions escalated, security personnel and bouncers entered the ring to restore order.
At the end of the opening round, Portable unexpectedly walked out of the ring, drawing boos from sections of the crowd.
Although he later returned and argued that taking Okocha to the canvas amounted to victory, officials rejected his claim.
The organisers ruled that Portable had abandoned the contest, resulting in his disqualification and handing Okocha the win.
"We do have a decision. And because Portable abandoned the ring after the first round, we have a winner, Mr Algorithm, Charles," the event host announced.
With the fight ending after the opening round, there was no conventional judges' scorecard. Portable was later seen arguing with members of his corner, insisting Okocha had not fought fairly.
The rivalry between the entertainers dates back to a business disagreement in 2023.
Portable accused Okocha of withholding payment from an event, claiming he was owed millions of naira. Okocha denied the allegation, insisting there was no formal agreement between them and maintaining that he transferred ₦5 million to the singer after the event.
The dispute spilled onto social media before both men agreed to settle their differences in the boxing ring.
Their first fight, sanctioned by Heritage Boxing Entertainment, lasted four rounds and ended in a victory for Portable. Okocha, however, disputed the result, alleging the contest was rigged and accusing Portable of removing his gloves during the third round. He immediately demanded a rematch.
That long-awaited rematch eventually took place on 31 July 2026 as one of the headline attractions of Chaos in the Ring, with promoters describing it as an opportunity for both entertainers to finally settle their "unfinished business."
The build-up was marked by verbal exchanges, heated face-offs and bold predictions.
Okocha confidently declared that Portable would not last beyond two rounds, while Portable insisted he would repeat his 2023 victory.
Ahead of the contest, Okocha trained with heavyweight boxer Moses Itauma, while Portable prepared under boxer Taiwo "Esehpo" Agbaje.
The fight also came at a crucial stage in Portable's celebrity boxing career. In May 2026, he suffered his first defeat in the exhibition circuit after losing by unanimous decision to content creator Carter Efe at Chaos in the Ring 4, ending his reign as celebrity boxing champion.
Despite that setback, Portable remained confident before facing Okocha, declaring in an interview: "Don't worry, not if I win. I'm winning this match."
He also described himself as "the face of boxing in Nigeria" and claimed he had received ₦50 million in advance, with a total purse of ₦150 million for the bout.
The rematch produced a different outcome from their first encounter.
Okocha emerged victorious after Portable's disqualification, bringing an end to a rivalry that had stretched from social media exchanges and financial allegations to two celebrity boxing contests.
The victory gives Okocha the revenge he had pursued since his controversial defeat in 2023, while Portable has now suffered back-to-back losses in the celebrity boxing circuit following defeats to Carter Efe and Okocha.
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