Celebrity rivalries intensify before Chaos in the Ring bouts

Tensions escalated at a press conference in Lagos ahead of the October 1 Chaos in the Ring event, with verbal confrontations involving Carter Efe, Speed Darlington, Nkechi Blessing and Phyna. Carter Efe and Speed Darlington exchanged threats at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja. Efe questioned why Speed Darlington had agreed to fight him after losing to Habeeb “Portable” Badmus in an earlier bout.

Efe, who the report said defeated Portable by unanimous decision in May, said he expected to beat Speed Darlington. Speed Darlington responded by warning that Efe’s championship belt would soon belong to him. The confrontation became more dramatic when Speed Darlington kicked a birthday cake presented to Efe.

Later, firecrackers set off by members of Efe’s entourage caused a brief fire at the venue. It was brought under control with extinguishers. The women’s bout also produced heated exchanges.

Nkechi Blessing said she was prepared to face Phyna and accused her of excessive disrespect. She said she wanted to settle the rivalry in the ring and made further threats in Pidgin English. Ezekiel Adamu, founder of Chaos in the Ring and Balmoral Group Promotions, said the disputes had become personal.

He described the event as likely to be highly intense and said organisers had witnessed another edition of “chaos” at the press conference. The card also includes a championship contest in which Godday Appah is due to defend the WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship, although the supplied report ends before naming his opponent.