Phyna made history at Balmoral Promotions’ Chaos in the Ring event in Lagos on October 1, 2026, knocking out actress Nkechi Blessing in the final round of their scheduled four-round bout to become the winner of Nigeria’s first female celebrity boxing contest.
The bout was one of the headline attractions at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, where Carter Efe also defeated rapper Speed Darlington, while Ghana’s Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah dethroned Godday “Zodsolo” Appah in the main event.
Phyna, whose full name is Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, relied on her movement and speed during the early stages as Nkechi Blessing pressed forward in search of close-range exchanges.
As the fight progressed, Phyna maintained her movement before landing the decisive punch in the final round. Nkechi Blessing failed to beat the referee’s count, bringing the contest to an end.
Phyna received ₦50 million, a championship belt and a new car for the victory. She also indicated that she intends to pursue professional boxing, suggesting that the bout could mark the beginning of a longer career in the sport.
Speaking after the fight, Phyna named Nollywood actress Etinosa Idemudia as her potential next opponent, claiming that she had been disturbing her through direct messages.
“I came in, and I kept my cool and did the thing. Now I would like to fight Etinosa. I think it is time I teach her a lesson,” Phyna said.
Etinosa, who watched the fight from ringside, accepted the challenge.
“I have been advising you to carry the Edo name with pride. We do not run from any fight. I accept the challenge fully,” she said.
In the second celebrity bout, Carter Efe dominated Speed Darlington throughout their four-round contest before the referee stopped the fight after the rapper stopped responding, handing Efe a technical knockout victory.
The victory extended Carter Efe’s unbeaten run in the Chaos in the Ring celebrity boxing series. He had previously defeated singer Habeeb “Portable” Badmus by unanimous decision in May, with all three judges scoring the three-round contest 30-27 in his favour.
The rivalry between Carter Efe and Speed Darlington had intensified during the build-up to the fight, with the two entertainers exchanging threats and confrontational remarks at the pre-fight press conference.
In the main event, Appah lost his WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship to Gyimah, who defeated the Nigerian champion by unanimous decision to claim the title.
The Chaos in the Ring event brought together celebrity entertainers and professional boxers for a night of high-profile contests, rivalries and championship action as part of Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary celebrations.
The event was broadcast live on SuperSport and DAZN, with the card powered by Bet9ja.