The build-up to the celebrity boxing bout between content creator, Carter Efe and singer, Speed Darlington descended into mayhem on Tuesday, as the pre-fight press conference at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos ended in shouting, flying objects and a small fire inside the hall.

Trouble started once the fight card took to the stage. Carter Efe, Speed Darlington, reality star Phyna and actress Nkechi Blessing were all on the platform when the microphones opened.

Darlington, pacing and jabbing a finger at his opponent, insisted that a comedian had no business in a professional boxing ring. Efe rose so quickly in response that his chair toppled backwards onto the stage.

Efe’s birthday, which fell on the same day as the press conference, was meant to add a lighter touch to the event. Instead, his cake was smashed by Darlington. Efe then reportedly set parts of the hall on fire, and the flames were put out with a fire extinguisher, leaving the room filled with smoke.

Bouncers and security personnel moved in to keep the two men apart.

Earlier, Phyna and Nkechi Blessing traded insults, with Phyna throwing a raw egg at the actress and Nkechi hurling a plastic bottle back.

Professional fighters Godday Appah and Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah also had to be restrained by bouncers when they tried to start their own face-off early. The two will contest the WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental title on the same card.

The promoter, Dr Ezekiel Adamu, chief executive of Balmoral Group, admitted the organisers had wanted chaos but never expected it to go that far, and said more precautions would be taken.

The exchanges were bitter even before Tuesday’s scenes. At an earlier face-off on September 10, Efe said his main motive for the fight was remarks Darlington allegedly made about singer Burna Boy. He also challenged Darlington to face him without a bodyguard. Darlington, on his part, promised to beat him.

Efe comes into the bout as the reigning celebrity boxing champion after a unanimous decision win over Portable in May, in which all three judges scored the fight 30-27 in his favour. Darlington’s only previous fight was a loss to Portable in 2025.

The fight is scheduled for October 1, Independence Day, and will be streamed live on DAZN.