Carter Efe, Portable set for May 1 boxing showdown
By Ejire Folakunmi
The Nigerian entertainment scene is bracing for a physical showdown as popular figures Carter Efe and Portable are officially scheduled to face off in a celebrity boxing match on May 1, 2026.
The bout will take place at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos as the headline event for "Chaos in the Ring 4," a combat sports showcase promoted by the Balmoral Group in partnership with Amir Khan's AK Promotions.
The match has gained significant international attention and is slated for a live broadcast on the global streaming platform DAZN.
The rivalry between the two stars transitioned from social media banter to a sanctioned sporting event after music executive Soso Soberekon initially offered ₦50 million to facilitate the fight.
Following intense negotiations and Portable’s public demand for a higher stake, unconfirmed reports now suggest that the prize pool has escalated to approximately ₦150 million.
In the weeks leading up to the clash, both contenders have been spotted at various Lagos landmarks, including Computer Village, where they traded verbal boasts and engaged in high-energy promotional face-offs.
Training camps for both fighters have already become a topic of intense discussion among fans and sporting analysts. Portable enters the ring with a perceived advantage in combat experience, having participated in similar celebrity bouts in the past, while Carter Efe has sought professional guidance by training alongside music star Small Doctor.
Despite the disparity in their fighting backgrounds, the stakes remain high as supporters across Nigeria place bets on whether Portable's widely known toughness will prevail over Carter Efe's rigorous preparation.
As the May 1st date approaches, the organizers have emphasized that the event is designed to merge the worlds of entertainment and professional sports while maintaining strict safety standards.
The "Chaos in the Ring" series continues to grow as a premier platform for celebrity athletics in West Africa, and this upcoming match is expected to be one of the most-watched spectacles in the history of the promotion.