Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Phyna, emerged victorious in a four-round celebrity boxing bout against Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing in Lagos. The fight, held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, was part of Balmoral Promotions' 'Chaos in the Ring' series. Phyna, whose real name is Ijeoma Otabor, stopped Nkechi Blessing in the fourth and final round, winning the contest.
The bout was one of the major attractions at the Independence Edition of 'Chaos in the Ring', powered by Bet9ja and streamed on DAZN and SuperSport. Phyna's strategy was to conserve energy and allow her opponent to get tired before attempting to finish the contest in the final round. Her approach paid off as she landed the decisive punch in the fourth round, sending Nkechi Blessing to the canvas.
Nkechi Blessing was unable to beat the referee's count, bringing the contest to an end. Phyna's victory came after weeks of public exchanges between the two women, following a disagreement over a proposed collaboration. The dispute began after Phyna and Nkechi Blessing exchanged messages about possible work engagements, which became public on 17 September.
The public exchanges escalated into a heated rivalry, with both women trading threats and taunts ahead of the fight. They confronted each other at several public appearances, including Pretty Mike's All White Party and The Morayo Show. The tension continued at their 29 September press conference and face-off in Victoria Island, where the two exchanged words and were involved in a physical confrontation.
Ahead of the fight, Phyna predicted that she would stop Nkechi Blessing in the second round. However, the bout went the full scheduled distance of four rounds before Phyna secured victory in the final round. As a result of her win, Phyna took home ₦50 million in prize money, a championship belt, and a new car.
Following her victory, Phyna called out another Nollywood actress, Etinosa Idemudia, claiming that the actress had been sending her messages. Etinosa, who was present at the venue, accepted the challenge, potentially setting up another celebrity boxing bout. Phyna also indicated that she is interested in pursuing boxing beyond the celebrity contest.
The event featured other notable fights, including Carter Efe's victory over Speed Darlington and Ghanaian boxer Seth 'Freezy Macbones' Gyimah's win over Godday 'Zodsolo' Appah in the main event. Phyna's victory marked a significant win in the celebrity boxing scene, and her interest in pursuing professional boxing may lead to more exciting matchups in the future.
Key points
- Phyna won ₦50 million and a championship belt for defeating Nkechi Blessing in the four-round celebrity boxing bout.
- The victory came after weeks of public exchanges between Phyna and Nkechi Blessing, who had a disagreement over a proposed collaboration.
- Phyna has called out Etinosa Idemudia for a potential celebrity boxing bout, and has expressed interest in pursuing professional boxing.
