With just days to go before the highly anticipated Portable vs. Speed Darlington celebrity boxing match set for April 18 at the Balmoral Convention Center, Azania Omo-Agege, Interim President of the Nigerian Boxing Federation, has issued a powerful statement urging caution and preparation.
Omo-Agege gave kudos to Portable for using his stardom to spotlight boxing, especially after his epic debut win over Charles Okocha. But he quickly reminded fans and promoters that boxing isn’t child’s play.
“Thank you to Portable for helping promote boxing, but both he and Speed Darlington must take training and safety seriously,” Omo-Agege warned.
With only two weeks left, he raised concerns about the lack of preparation time and emphasized the entertainers’ non-athlete lifestyles, suggesting they may not be in top physical shape for a match this intense.
Even more critically, Omo-Agege demanded the mandatory use of safety gear, including headgear and mouthguards, calling out the previous fight’s lack of protection as risky. He also asked for certified medical personnel to be present, referencing the tragic loss of Nigerian boxer Olanrewaju “Success” Segun, who suffered a cardiac arrest mid-fight in Ghana.
“Don’t repeat past mistakes,” he said. “These men are not pro fighters. Let’s protect them.”
Meanwhile, Portable is already seen training in a street-style makeshift ring, while Speed Darlington’s earlier ₦500K performance offer to Portable has added fuel to an already fiery rivalry.
🎯 All eyes are now on April 18—will it be glory or chaos?