Nigerian singer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, has sparked controversy following his celebrity boxing match with fellow artist Badmus Okikiola, widely known as Portable.
According to Speed Darlington, the match was far from ordinary, as he accused Portable of using native charms, commonly referred to as juju, to gain an unfair advantage in the ring.
The much-talked-about fight took place on Saturday during the Chaos In The Ring event, organized by Game Rush and Balmoral Promotions. This high-profile showdown is part of a growing trend of celebrity boxing in Nigeria, following earlier editions in December 2024 and the launch of Friday Fight Night in February 2025.
In a video posted to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Speed Darlington claimed that his shoulder became dislocated during the bout, a development he described as mysterious and suspicious.
He stated that he was not fatigued or overwhelmed at any point during the match, which led him to believe that spiritual interference may have played a role.
He alleged that Portable possibly introduced juju into the fight, which he claimed influenced the outcome. According to him, there was no logical explanation for how his shoulder could have dislocated without significant impact or prior injury.
Portable, who emerged victorious in the match, has continued to trend across social media platforms, with clips of the fight generating widespread reactions.
While he has yet to directly respond to the accusations, fans and commentators have been quick to pick sides, with some dismissing Speed Darlington's claims as mere excuses for his loss.
The tension between the two artists reportedly predates the boxing event. Sources close to the matter revealed that Speed Darlington once offered Portable a sum of ₦500,000 to perform at an event, an offer that Portable found insulting. The fallout from that exchange is believed to have fueled the animosity that eventually led to their face-off in the ring.
As the drama continues to unfold online, fans remain divided on whether Speed Darlington’s accusations hold any merit or if it’s just another episode of post-match theatrics.
Regardless, the fight has become one of the most talked-about events in Nigeria's entertainment scene this month, and the buzz doesn’t seem to be dying down anytime soon.