Charles Okocha declared winner of celebrity boxing rematch after Portable walks out of ring

Portable loses boxing rematch to Okocha after walkout

Charles Okocha has finally settled his celebrity boxing score with Portable — but not in the manner anyone expected.

The Nollywood actor was declared the winner of their much-anticipated rematch in Lagos on Friday, July 31, after Portable left the ring during the opening round and failed to return in time to continue the contest.

The bout, tagged “Unfinished Business,” was staged as part of the Chaos in the Ring event and was billed as a chance for Okocha to avenge his controversial defeat to the singer in their first encounter.

Instead, the rematch ended abruptly when Portable stepped out of the ring.

Portable loses boxing rematch to Okocha after walkout

Although the controversial singer later returned, officials ruled that he had abandoned the contest and awarded the victory to Okocha.

Okocha gets revenge — without a full fight

The result dramatically reversed the outcome of the pair’s first celebrity boxing encounter in December 2023.

Portable won that four-round contest, but Okocha refused to accept the result quietly. The actor subsequently questioned the officiating and repeatedly called for another opportunity to settle the matter.

That opportunity eventually arrived nearly three years later.

Portable loses boxing rematch to Okocha after walkout

But after only the opening round, the rematch was effectively over.

With Portable unable to continue under the officials’ ruling, Okocha was declared the winner — bringing the highly anticipated showdown to an unexpectedly early conclusion.

Portable’s management apologises

Portable’s management has since apologised to the event organisers, fans and everyone affected by the singer’s decision to leave the ring.

In a statement issued after the bout, the management accepted responsibility for the disappointment caused by the abrupt ending while asking the public to respect Portable’s decision.

The statement reads:

“We sincerely apologize to the organizers, Balmoral Group, the entire event team, our fans, friends, family, and everyone who came out to support Portable at tonight’s celebrity boxing event.

“We understand the disappointment caused by the outcome of the fight and by Portable’s decision to step away after the first round. While emotions can run high in moments like these, we respectfully ask everyone to respect his decision and perspective.

“On behalf of Portable’s management, we take full responsibility for the disappointment this may have caused. We remain grateful for the unwavering love and support shown to him throughout this journey.

“We appreciate Balmoral Group and everyone involved for putting together a great event, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.

“We have taken note of the feedback, and we are committed to learning from this experience. We promise to come back stronger and do better next time.

“Thank you for your continued support, understanding, and belief in Portable.”

‘Unfinished Business’ ends unfinished

The apology followed an evening that was supposed to close the chapter on the rivalry between the two entertainers.

Instead, the Unfinished Business rematch produced another talking point.

Portable's walkout meant the contest never reached the rounds fans had expected, while Okocha walked away with the official victory he had spent years demanding.

For Okocha, the result represents revenge after his 2023 loss.

For Portable, it leaves questions over why he abandoned the bout and why he was unable to continue after returning to the venue.

And for fans who paid to see the celebrity grudge match finally settled inside the ring, the biggest irony may be in the name itself:

“Unfinished Business” ended before the business could truly be finished.