By Onoja Baba
Nigerian street pop singer Habeeb Okikiola has explained why he walked out of the ring during his celebrity boxing rematch against Nollywood actor Charles Okocha, insisting he was unfairly attacked during the contest.
Portable made the claims in a video posted on his Instagram page on Saturday, hours after he was disqualified in the much publicised bout held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The singer alleged that Okocha abandoned boxing for wrestling during the fight, claiming he was bitten and choked during the opening round.
Displaying injuries on his back and body in the video, Portable alleged that Okocha bit him during the contest, insisting he had landed more punches on his opponent before the incident.
According to the singer, he dominated the fight and delivered the heavy blows he had promised before the bout.
Explaining why he left the ring, Portable said he no longer wished to participate in such fights, stressing that his music career was worth more than the prize money.
He also told his followers that he had intended to end the fight in the opening round, claiming he wore a special outfit because he expected a one round victory.
The bout, tagged “Unfinished Business,” was organised as a rematch of the pair’s controversial first encounter, which Okocha had claimed was wrongly awarded in Portable’s favour.
Portable appeared to have the upper hand before the contest degenerated into a wrestling like scuffle, forcing the referee to struggle to separate both fighters as security personnel and bodyguards intervened to restore order.
Although the singer later returned to the ring after walking away, officials disqualified him and awarded victory to Okocha.
Before the contest, Portable had expressed confidence about defeating the actor again after boasting during the final weigh in that he remained the better fighter.
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