Nigerian singer Habeeb Badmus, widely known as Portable, has claimed that his loss to Carter Efe at the “Chaos in the Ring 4” boxing event in Lagos was manipulated.
Portable alleged that the bout was prematurely stopped to prevent organisers from paying out large betting sums reportedly placed on him. He lost the match by unanimous decision after three rounds, with all judges scoring it 27–30 in favour of Carter Efe, ending his unbeaten streak in celebrity boxing following earlier wins over Charles Okocha and Speed Darlington.
Reacting after the fight, the “ZaZoo” crooner insisted the outcome was influenced by financial stakes, claiming that organisers could not afford to settle bets allegedly worth ₦23 billion tied to his victory. He argued that he was still fit to continue and that the decision to halt the fight was unjustified.
Portable also demanded payment of about ₦200 million, which he said represents his share of the event’s streaming revenue, warning organisers to settle the amount.
The controversy drew further attention when Canada-based Nigerian doctor, Arinze Onwumelu, advised that Portable undergo medical evaluation, including a brain scan, due to potential impact from punches sustained during the bout. He also called for stricter safety measures in celebrity boxing, such as mandatory headgear.
Despite the defeat and ongoing dispute, Portable revealed that the birth of his son on the same day outweighed the loss, noting that fatherhood was more important to him than retaining the boxing title.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
Email: snowmediaconnect@gmail.com
