Nigerian street-hop sensation Habeeb Okikiola, famously known as Portable, stunned fans and critics alike with a Technical Knockout (TKO) victory over fellow entertainer Speed Darlington at a celebrity boxing match held at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos.
The fight, which ended dramatically after just one round, saw Portable unleash a flurry of aggressive punches, pinning Darlington—aka Akpi—into a corner. Darlington, unable to continue, failed to return for the second round and was later spotted with a bandaged right arm.
A Call to Step into the National Ring
In the aftermath of the fight, boxing enthusiast Adekunle Adesina has called on Portable to take things a notch higher by representing Ogun State at the upcoming National Sports Festival (NSF)—the country’s biggest multi-sport event—set to take place from May 18 to 30, 2025, in Abeokuta.
Speaking to Legit.ng, Adesina said:
“I want to see Portable compete at the upcoming National Sports Festival in May. Fortunately for him, Ogun State is the host, and he lives in Sango Ota.”
He emphasized that as a resident of the host state, Portable could easily qualify via in-house trials instead of the national qualifiers, noting:
“If Portable makes the final list of boxers for the festival, I can assure you he’ll bring extra glamour to the event. Everyone will want to watch him fight.”
Portable’s Rising Boxing Profile
This marks Portable’s second win in celebrity boxing, and fans have been quick to praise his raw power and surprising technique. In the Saturday match, he combined sheer aggression with strategic movement—even grabbing Darlington’s neck mid-fight to prevent a comeback.
The fight drew a crowd of celebrities and fans, and the victory may well mark the beginning of something bigger for the Zazu Zeh crooner.
Could Portable be Nigeria’s first street-hop artist to win a medal in boxing? Only time—and May 2025—will tell.
