Nigerian singer, Habeeb Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has alleged that his defeat to Carter Efe at the Chaos in the Ring 4 event in Lagos was manipulated.
Portable claimed the fight was stopped unfairly to prevent organisers from paying out huge sums allegedly staked on his victory.
The singer lost the celebrity boxing bout by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the contest 27-30 in favour of Efe after three rounds.
Naija News reports that the result ended Portable’s reign as celebrity boxing champion, following his previous victories over Charles Okocha and Speed Darlington.
‘They Couldn’t Pay ₦23 Billion Bet On Me’
Reacting after the bout, the ZaZoo crooner insisted that he was cheated and that the outcome was influenced by money allegedly wagered on him.
“It was cheating. They couldn’t pay the money, so they rigged it. We are the ones who won, so they ripped me. They couldn’t pay the ₦23 billion that people bet on me. If Portable wins, they can never pay the money,” he said.
Portable argued that he should have been allowed to continue fighting, saying the decision to end the bout was premature.
He compared the situation to his earlier celebrity boxing fight against actor Charles Okocha, insisting that his physical condition during the Carter Efe bout was not enough reason to stop the contest.
“They should have let us keep fighting. They said I was panting, I did the same against Charles Okocha. All they should have done was pour water on me so I could go and beat him, but they said the fight was over,” he said.
Portable Demands ₦200 Million Streaming Money
Portable also accused the organisers of owing him money from the event’s streaming revenue.
The singer demanded that he be paid what he described as his share of the proceeds.
“To the organisers, I want my stream money amounting to about N200 million. Just give me my money before I cause trouble,” he said.
His outburst added another twist to the aftermath of the bout, which had attracted attention from fans of entertainment and celebrity boxing.
Meanwhile, a Canada-based Nigerian doctor, Arinze Onwumelu, has advised Portable to undergo a brain scan following the fight.
Onwumelu, popularly known as Dr Zo, warned that some of the punches delivered during the bout may have affected sensitive areas of the singer’s head.
He urged those close to Portable to take him for medical checks to rule out internal injury.
“Anybody who knows Portable should take him to the hospital for an MRI and brain test; there may be an artery that might have been damaged,” he said.
The doctor also called for better safety standards in celebrity boxing events, saying headguards should be made compulsory for participants in such exhibition bouts.
Despite the defeat, allegations of foul play and the medical concerns raised after the contest, Portable said the birth of his son on the same night mattered more to him than the boxing belt.
The singer said becoming a father again placed the result of the fight in proper perspective.
“My wife just gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. I value that more than a belt. You can buy the belt, but not my child,” he said.
Portable’s defeat to Carter Efe brings an end to his unbeaten run in celebrity boxing, but the singer has continued to insist that he was unfairly denied victory.
