Controversial Nigerian musicians Speed Darlington and Portable have been involved in a heated rivalry that recently culminated in a celebrity boxing match, dubbed “Chaos In The Ring.” The fight, held on April 18, 2025, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos, ended abruptly in the second round when Speed Darlington suffered a dislocated shoulder, unable to continue the bout. Despite this, tensions between the two remain high, with Darlington demanding a rematch and accusing Portable of using supernatural forces, or “juju,” to win.
Following the match, Burna Boy gifted Portable N20 million for his victory, a gesture that Portable proudly shared on Instagram, expressing gratitude and acknowledging Burna Boy’s influence. However, Speed Darlington, visibly upset by the defeat, posted a video in which he claimed that the prize money was undeserved. He expressed his frustration, saying that he intended to use the money to build a swimming pool for his villagers in Imo State. Darlington argued that it was unfair for Portable to win, citing his opponent’s prior boxing experience, while he himself had never stepped into a ring before.
In his emotional video, Speed Darlington also demanded a rematch, stating he needed at least 30 days to prepare better. He further accused the event organizers of tribalism, alleging that the fight was biased due to Portable’s Yoruba heritage, with Yoruba judges on the panel. However, this accusation seems unfounded, as the outcome of the match was determined by Darlington’s injury, not by any decision from the judges.
Portable, responding to these accusations, sarcastically embraced the juju allegations, jokingly claiming that he did indeed use juju, challenging Darlington to find his own. The rivalry between the two stems from a previous dispute when Speed Darlington offered Portable ₦500,000 for a performance, which Portable found insulting. Tensions flared further when a mini-scuffle broke out between the two during their weigh-in before the fight.
This bout added to Portable’s boxing record, following his earlier win against Nollywood actor Charles Okocha in December 2023. The saga between the two musicians seems far from over, with Darlington continuing to call for a rematch and both men fueling the rivalry with their claims and accusations.
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