Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing and Big Brother Naija winner Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, known as Phyna, will box each other on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at The Balmoral, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
The four-round bout is the first celebrity fight by a woman in the Chaos in the Ring series. It carries a rematch clause. The organizers say it is a real boxing match.
The two women have been in conflict since Nkechi Blessing challenged Phyna on Instagram over a movie role.
They met at a face-off on Tuesday, September 29, where each promised to beat the other. Nkechi Blessing said Phyna disrespected someone close to her and that she would punish her for it.
“I am 100 percent prepared for the fight. I will beat her with my first blow, and she won’t stand a chance after that,” Nkechi Blessing said.
Phyna mocked her opponent’s age and predicted a win in the second round.
“She is an old woman, and I will continue to disgrace her. I will beat her in round 2,” Phyna said.
Phyna also said she wants a career in boxing after the fight.
The founder of Chaos in the Ring and head of Balmoral Group Promotions, Dr Ezekiel Adamu, said the event is the fifth the group has held in the past year. He named it the Independence Edition.
“It’s a real boxing match; expect a war in the ring,” Adamu said.
Other fights on the card
They are not the only pair scheduled for a fight. Content creator Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, known as Carter Efe, and rapper Darlington Okoye, known as Speed Darlington, also faced off at the event.
Warri-born boxer Godday Appah will defend his WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental title against Ghana’s Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah on Independence Day.
Gyimah said he expects to win. “I am the face of African Boxing, and Appah must respect that,” he said.
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Appah said he is fighting for Nigeria. “I’m not chasing clout; I’m fighting for our country. Freezy is my friend, but I will beat him and make Nigeria proud. The pressure isn’t on me; it’s on him,” he said.
The professional card also has these bouts:
- Basit “Jokerboy” Adebayo against Fatiu Jomoni
- Eworitse “Ezra” Arenyeka against Lekan “The Engine” Muibi
- Yusuf “Swaggu” Adeniji against Tagoe
- Israel Makinde against Abiodun Muyideen
SuperSport and DAZN will broadcast the event across Africa and worldwide.
Many users on X said they were excited, and some backed Phyna to win. Others questioned the fight. One user said the two women are in different weight classes. Another said Nigerians should pay more attention to banditry and terrorism than to the bout.
