The Nigerian music scene witnessed a dramatic clash of personalities as controversial artists Portable and Speed Darlington faced off in a celebrity boxing match dubbed “Chaos In The Ring.” The event, held at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos on April 18, 2025, ended abruptly in the second round when Speed Darlington sustained a reported shoulder dislocation, forcing him to forfeit the match. Following the victory, Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy, a known rival of Speed Darlington, gifted Portable a substantial sum of N20 million, further fueling the post-match controversy. Portable, reveling in his win and the unexpected financial reward, proudly announced the gift on social media, thanking Burna Boy and mimicking his signature phrase. This generous act solidified the existing rift between Burna Boy and Speed Darlington, adding another layer to the already complex narrative.
The aftermath of the fight saw Speed Darlington, visibly distraught by his loss, publicly demanding a rematch. He attributed his defeat not to Portable’s fighting prowess, but to the alleged use of “juju,” a term referring to supernatural forces and charms in West African culture. In a series of emotional Instagram posts and live sessions, Speed Darlington expressed his disbelief and frustration, claiming that he was unprepared for the fight, lacking the necessary training and experience. He argued that the N20 million prize money rightfully belonged to him and pleaded for another chance to prove himself, vowing to undergo rigorous training and, ironically, explore his own “juju” options for the hypothetical rematch. These claims, tinged with desperation and a hint of the theatrical, ignited a firestorm of reactions from fans and fellow artists alike, with some dismissing them as sour grapes while others entertained the possibility of a supernatural element in the fight.
Adding to the controversy, Speed Darlington further accused the organizers of the event of tribal bias, suggesting that they favored Portable due to his Yoruba heritage. He pointed to the predominantly Yoruba judging panel and audience as evidence of his claim, insinuating that the outcome of the match was predetermined. This accusation, delivered in an impassioned Instagram Live session, injected a sensitive element of ethnic division into the already heated narrative, drawing criticism and sparking debate on social media. However, his claims of biased judging appear unfounded given that the fight ended due to his injury, not a judges’ decision. The match was stopped by medical personnel attending to his dislocated shoulder, precluding any influence from judges’ scorecards.
Portable, on the other hand, met Speed Darlington’s accusations of “juju” with a sarcastic embrace. He taunted his defeated opponent, not denying the use of supernatural means but rather seemingly confirming them with a playful arrogance, challenging Speed Darlington to find his own “juju” if he wanted to stand a chance in a future rematch. This provocative response, typical of Portable’s controversial public persona, further escalated the drama and solidified his image as a defiant and unapologetic figure in the Nigerian music scene.
The boxing match itself was the culmination of a long-simmering feud between the two artists, which originated from a perceived slight regarding performance fees. Speed Darlington had reportedly offered Portable N500,000 to perform at an event, an amount that Portable deemed insulting, sparking a public exchange of words and escalating tensions between the two. This initial disagreement spiraled into a full-blown rivalry, finding an outlet in the celebrity boxing match. The underlying tension between the artists was palpable even before the fight, with a near-altercation during the weigh-in ceremony requiring security intervention. This incident foreshadowed the explosive nature of the event and the intense emotions at play.
The victory over Speed Darlington marked another win for Portable in the celebrity boxing arena, adding to his previous triumph against Nollywood actor Charles Okocha in December 2023. This string of victories further cements his reputation as a formidable opponent, blurring the lines between his musical persona and a newfound image as a pugilistic entertainer. While his boxing endeavors might be seen as a sideshow to his music career, they nonetheless contribute to his controversial public persona, captivating audiences and generating buzz, albeit often for less-than-savory reasons. The “Chaos In The Ring” event ultimately served as a platform for the culmination of a personal feud, amplified by accusations of supernatural interference, tribalism, and fueled by a significant financial reward from a prominent figure in the Nigerian music industry.
