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Ferdinand Ekechukwu

A dramatic scene between Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday and reality television star Josephine Otabor, known as Phyna, played out on Tuesday September 29, ahead of their much anticipated celebrity boxing bout in Victoria Island, Lagos. The clash occurred during a press conference, as the beef between the two entertainers excalated in the presence of attendees and members of the media.

The highly publicized boxing match is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, as part of Balmoral Group Promotions’ “Chaos in the Ring” contest dubbed Independence edition. And for the first time will feature female celebrity fighters. Nkechi, Phyna have spent the days leading up to the bout trading words, with their exchanges generating considerable attention across social media and entertainment circles.

The beef between the two entertainers began after Nkechi Blessing publicly called out Phyna over a movie role in one of her productions. What followed heated back-and-forth online, with Nkechi issuing a stern warning about Phyna’s attitude, describing it as disrespectful and the former Big Brother Naija winner firing back with her own response.

However, the tension took physical turn when the two women exchanged punches, during faceoff at the press conference, confronting each other as the organisers attempted to douse the situation from escalating further, with both ladies promising to win on October 1.

The incident has added another layer to the build-up to a fight that was initially presented as a celebrity boxing contest but has increasingly been driven by the personal rivalry between both women. The October 1 event will take place at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, with the contest forming part of Balmoral’s celebrity boxing series, which has previously featured mainly male entertainers.

The boxing face-off, which also featured streamer, Carter Efe, and singer, Speed Darlington, further descended into palpable chaos after Efe’s birthday cake, which had been brought forward to celebrate his special day coinciding with the press conference, was smashed by Darlington. Firecrackers aided by Efe’s entourage sparked a disturbing flame, which was quickly doused with extinguishers.

Efe opened the confrontation by questioning Speed Darlington’s decision to step into the ring with him after his win over controversial act Portable in May. Speed Darlington did not back down from his rival’s threats and turned his attention to Efe’s belt, won against Portable, saying, “Be careful with that belt. Your belt is mine. Do not scratch it now.”

Efe enters the bout off the back of a unanimous decision win over Portable at the same venue in May, a victory that earned him a promised ₦50m reward from businessman Emeka “E-Money” Okonkwo. Founder of “Chaos in the Ring” and Balmoral Group Promotions, Dr Ezekiel Adamu, described the rivalry between Phyna and Nkechi Blessing as having taken a genuinely personal turn.

He described the upcoming edition as the biggest of the “Chaos in the Ring” boxing series. The October 1 event will be headlined by Godday Appah’s defence of his WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship against Ghana’s Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah. The event will be broadcast live on SuperSport and DAZN, with the card powered by Bet9ja.