Nigerian actresses Nkechi Blessing and Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, are set to go head-to-head in the first female celebrity fight of Chaos in the Ring on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The event will take place at The Balmoral, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. The four-round bout, which includes a rematch clause, aims to attract a new audience to boxing. The rivalry between the two entertainers has added excitement to the event.
The feud between Phyna and Nkechi began after Nkechi publicly challenged Phyna on Instagram over a movie role and online conflicts. During Tuesday's face-off heralding the bout, Blessing and Phyna clashed in a fierce war of words, each vowing to completely dismantle the other in the ring. Nkechi claimed Phyna disrespected someone close to her and promised to beat her up for being rude.
Nkechi Blessing expressed her confidence in the fight, stating she is 100 per cent prepared and will beat Phyna with her first blow. "I will beat her with my first blow and she won’t stand a chance after that," Blessing said. Phyna fired back, mocking Blessing's age and promising a devastating second-round finish. "She is an old woman, and I will continue to disgrace her. I will beat her in round 2," Phyna responded.
Phyna also mentioned that she wants to pursue a career in boxing after the fight. The event also featured a tense face-off between content creator Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, known as Carter Efe, and rapper Darlington Okoye, known as Speed Darlington. Other bouts on the professional card include Basit “Jokerboy” Adebayo against Fatiu Jomoni, Eworitse “Ezra” Arenyeka against Lekan “The Engine” Muibi, Yusuf “Swaggu” Adeniji against Tagoe, and Israel Makinde against Abiodun Muyideen.
Chaos in the Ring founder and Balmoral Group Promotions, Dr Ezekiel Adamu, stated that this is their 5th event in the past year, themed the Independence Edition. He described it as a real boxing match, expecting a war in the ring. The event aims to create a platform that blends sport, entertainment, and African culture. SuperSport and DAZN will broadcast the event across Africa and worldwide.
Meanwhile, Warri-born boxer Godday Appah has vowed to destroy Ghanaian fighter Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah as he aims to defend his WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship on Independence Day. During the Face Off event on Tuesday, a confident Seth “Freezy” declared: “It’s going to be ‘Freezy Time’ on the night. I will beat him (Appah) and punch him hard in the face.
Appah, maintaining his composure, pledged to uphold Nigerian pride. “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.” The event is expected to be an exciting and intense experience for spectators, with various high-profile matches and celebrity participation.
Key points
- The celebrity boxing match between Nkechi Blessing and Phyna is set to take place on October 1, 2026.
- The event aims to create a platform that blends sport, entertainment, and African culture.
- The match between Godday Appah and Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah will be a key highlight of the event.
