Speed Darlington plays Ethnic Card over Defeat by Portable

Controversial singer, Speed Darlington has taken to social media to express his displeasure over his defeat to Portable in the highly anticipated celebrity boxing match tagged “Chaos In The Ring.”

The match, which took place on April 18, 2025, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos, ended with Portable being declared the winner in a second-round knockout.

In an Instagram Live session shortly after the bout, Speed Darlington vented his frustration, accusing the organizers and judges of bias in favor of Portable, a Yoruba native. “Yoruba judges, Yoruba is everything, of course, Yoruba gang will win. Don’t pretend tribalism is not in Nigeria, of course, he will win when Yoruba is the judge, everybody inside the ring is Yoruba, the stage we are fighting in is Yoruba, of course, he will be awarded the win,” Speed Darlington said during the live broadcast.

The singer’s outburst has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many of his fans and supporters expressing their outrage and disappointment over the alleged bias. However, others have come to the defense of the organizers and judges, arguing that the outcome of the match was fair and that Speed Darlington’s allegations are unfounded.

Despite the controversy surrounding the match, Portable has been basking in the glory of his victory. In a surprising move, Grammy-winning singer, Burna Boy, who has been at loggerheads with Speed Darlington, gifted Portable N20 million.

Portable disclosed this via his Instagram story on Saturday, writing, “20 million from @burnaboygram. If you wanna be like Odogwu, can you do like Odogwu? God bless your family.”

The gesture has been seen as a sign of respect and admiration from Burna Boy, who has been a long-time critic of Speed Darlington. The two singers have been engaged in a public feud for several months, with Burna Boy often taking to social media to mock and criticize Speed Darlington’s music and behavior.

The “Chaos In The Ring” celebrity boxing match was highly anticipated, with many fans and celebrities in attendance. The event was seen as a way to settle the long-standing feud between Speed Darlington and Portable, who have been at odds for several months.