Portable backs out of boxing match with Speed Darlington, seeks bout with Anthony Joshua

Popular Nigerian street-hop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, has withdrawn from his much-anticipated celebrity boxing match against fellow entertainer Darlington Achakpo Okoye, also known as Speed Darlington.

In a video shared on his Instagram page, Portable dismissed Speed Darlington as an unworthy rival and instead challenged former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua to a fight. “I’m not fighting Speed Darlington again; I want Anthony Joshua with 100 million,” Portable said in the now-viral video.

He accused Speed Darlington of using the proposed match to promote his upcoming April event, while also boasting about his dominance in the entertainment industry. According to Portable, he is more popular and influential than Speed Darlington, who was released from Kuje Prison in January after being held for allegedly defaming Afrobeat star Burna Boy.

The unexpected announcement comes just days after Speed Darlington began his training for the match. In a video that circulated online, he was seen buying a coffin and then heading to the gym with his trainer, a move many saw as a mockery aimed at Portable. He was also seen practicing punches and working on his physical fitness in preparation for the clash.

The boxing match, initially scheduled for April 18, 2025, at the Balmoral Convention Center in Lagos State, was one of the most talked-about entertainment events in recent weeks. However, Portable’s sudden exit has thrown the event into doubt, effectively putting the fight on hold, at least for now.