Former Big Brother Naija winner Phyna (Ijeoma Josephina Otabor) defeated Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing by fourth-round technical knockout in a highly anticipated celebrity boxing match held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The bout, staged as part of Balmoral Promotions’ “Chaos in the Ring” Independence Day edition and billed as the first female celebrity boxing contest in the series’ history, capped weeks of public rivalry between the two entertainers.
Phyna was declared the winner after the referee stopped the contest when Blessing was unable to continue. Organisers announced: “A fourth-round technical knockout, your new champion is Phyna.”
Phyna, the smaller and more mobile of the two, used speed and footwork from the opening bell, circling the ring and throwing quick punches to frustrate her opponent. Blessing pressed forward aggressively in the second round, leading to heavy exchanges. The third round remained closely contested. In the fourth, Phyna landed the decisive blow that sent Blessing to the canvas; the actress could not beat the referee’s count.
The victory earned Phyna a reported ₦50 million prize, a championship belt, and a brand-new car (described in some reports as an electric vehicle). After the fight, Phyna said her strategy had been to wear Blessing down before finishing in the final round. She also called out actress Etinosa Idemudia as a potential next opponent, claiming the latter had been messaging her.
Background to the rivalry
The feud began in mid-September 2026. On September 17, Nkechi Blessing posted an Instagram video criticising Phyna’s frequent online confrontations, urging her to “relax” and noting that she (Blessing), at 37, was older than the reality star. Phyna responded by sharing details of a prior private exchange in which Blessing had contacted her about a potential movie role and requested her rate card. Phyna said she replied later the same day only to learn another person had already been cast; she accused Blessing of publicly targeting her over a limited interaction.
Tensions escalated beyond social media. A video from late September showed the pair in a physical confrontation at media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown’s studio during a taped appearance on The Morayo Show; crew members, including the host, intervened as the argument turned physical. The two also clashed verbally and briefly physically at a pre-fight press conference in Victoria Island on September 29, requiring separation by security.
Nkechi Blessing later addressed her defeat, saying she trained for only two days compared with Phyna’s more than two weeks of preparation. She quipped that Phyna “was always running from me in the ring,” asking her opponent during the bout why she was “running like a woman.” Despite the loss, Blessing appeared to take the result in relatively good spirits.
The event, powered by Bet9ja and streamed on DAZN and SuperSport, also featured other celebrity bouts, including Carter Efe’s unanimous decision win over Speed Darlington. Phyna’s triumph marks her as the first winner of a female celebrity bout under the “Chaos in the Ring” banner and adds another high-profile chapter to her post-BBNaija career.
About the Author
