Controversial Nigerian street-hop singer Habeeb Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has sparked fresh controversy after alleging that his celebrity boxing defeat to Carter Efe was manipulated to deny him victory.
The bout, held at the Chaos in the Ring 4 event in Lagos, ended with Portable losing by unanimous decision, as all three judges scored the contest 27–30 in favour of Carter Efe after three rounds. The result brought an end to Portable’s unbeaten run in celebrity boxing, where he had previously recorded wins over Charles Okocha and Speed Darlington.
However, reacting angrily after the fight, Portable claimed the outcome was rigged, alleging that organisers halted the bout to avoid paying out massive bets placed on him.
According to the singer, as much as ₦23 billion had allegedly been staked on his victory, making it impossible for organisers to honour payouts if he had won. He insisted that he was unfairly stopped from continuing the fight, arguing that his physical state was not sufficient reason to end the contest.
Portable also issued a strong warning to the event organisers, demanding payment of approximately ₦200 million, which he claimed was his share of the event’s streaming revenue. He threatened to cause trouble if the money was not paid.
The controversy has drawn further attention following medical concerns raised by Canada-based Nigerian doctor, Arinze Onwumelu, who advised that Portable undergo an MRI scan. The doctor warned that repeated punches to the head during the bout could have caused internal damage and called for stricter safety measures, including mandatory headguards in celebrity boxing events.
Despite the heated allegations and aftermath of the fight, Portable appeared to shift focus to a personal milestone, revealing that he welcomed a baby boy on the same night. He stated that the birth of his child meant more to him than retaining any boxing title.
The dramatic fallout continues to fuel debate among fans, with questions lingering over the integrity of celebrity boxing events and the legitimacy of Portable’s claims.
