Nigerian-born youthful boxer, Moses Itauma, has started his official countdown to this Saturday’s world title fight with a creative promotional video on social media, highlighting his training and relaying comments regarding his ambition in the ring.

Sports247 reports that the boxer with a Nigerian father and mother from Slovakia is already being hyped as ‘the latest real deal in boxing history,’ but experts believe he will get his biggest test so far when he steps into the ring in London against Filip Hrgovic of Croatia.

As the countdown gets tighter to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) fight for the belt, which could make Itauma Britain’s youngest ever world champion, the Nigerian-born fighter has dropped a heart-pumping pre-fight trailer to herald his date with destiny.

‘The Chatham Clubber’ takes on the Croat for the vacant IBF heavyweight title, ahead of which DAZN released an epic pre-fight trailer for Itauma, in the same style as Nike’s iconic commercials to highlight the lad’s maiden world title bid, which will be broadcast live.

Fight experts also believe the bout could be the beginning of a new era in boxing’s heavyweight division, with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury already on their way out, while British fans are eager to see the potential coronation of a new king of the ring reigning from their country.

A report by the UK’s SunSport revealed, “Ahead of the potential dawn of a new era, DAZN have released an epic trailer to promote the bout. The first-person-view trailer gives an insight into the daily life of the slick southpaw, including a boxer’s early-morning wake-up call to go for a run.

“The promo, which is shot in the style of Nike‘s iconic footie ads from the noughties, also features Itauma going through all the obligations of a sporting superstar. It sees the 21-year-old attending a photoshoot and a pre-fight press conference.

“Itauma also gets a taste of the high life by attending a swanky movie premiere in Leicester Square. The slickly shot promotional package ends with the knockout artist arriving at The O2 in a helicopter before striding to the ring for what could be the biggest fight of his career.”

Sports247 reports further that Itauma, who was born in Slovakia but fights out of Chatham, Kent, is an undefeated 21-year-old lethal southpaw boxing sensation widely regarded as the future of the division, as he has taken the sport by storm with his rare blend of explosive power and hand speed.

He is currently trained by Ben Davison and backed by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, who have guided him to a professional record of 14 wins and no defeats (12 via knockout), after an amateur mark of 24 straight wins (11 KOs), following which he became a triple pro-champ.

Itauma has been champion with the Commonwealth, WBO Intercontinental and WBA International belts, following which he will become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in boxing history, after Mike Tyson, if he wins on Saturday at The O2 Arena in London.

The British Young Boxer of the Year 2025 was born in Kežmarok, Slovakia, to a Nigerian father and Slovak mother, with his older sibling being light-heavyweight boxer Karol Itauma, who was the youngster’s first inspiration in the pugilist’s sport.

He and his family experienced racism in Slovakia and decided to migrate to England in search of new opportunities that the East European nation did not provide; so they moved to Chatham, Kent, when the new star of global heavyweight boxing was just three years old.

The post Moses Itauma Begins Countdown To Saturday’s Title Fight With Creative Virtual Video Splashed Across Social Media appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Nigerian street-pop star Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has expressed regret over the controversial ending to his celebrity boxing rematc against actor Charles Okocha in Lagos.

The highly anticipated bout, billed as an opportunity to settle the rivalry between the two entertainers, ended prematurely after Portable walked away from the contest following a chaotic opening round.

The dramatic development left fans and spectators stunned, as the expected boxing showdown quickly descended into disorder, with tensions between the two fighters spilling beyond the normal boundaries of the contest.

In a statement issued by his management, Zeh Nation/Dr Zeh, the singer’s team apologised to the organisers, Balmoral Group, the event crew, fans, friends and family members who had turned out to support him.

The management acknowledged the disappointment caused by Portable’s decision to leave the fight after the opening round while appealing to the public to respect his decision and perspective.

“We understand the disappointment caused by the outcome of the fight and by Portable’s decision to step away after the first round,” the statement said.

The team also accepted responsibility for the disappointment generated by the incident and expressed appreciation to Portable’s supporters for their continued loyalty despite the controversy surrounding the bout.

Zeh Nation further commended Balmoral Group and everyone involved in organising the celebrity boxing event, while apologising for any inconvenience caused by the unexpected conclusion.

According to the management, the reaction to the incident has been noted, with the experience expected to serve as a learning opportunity for Portable and his team.

“We have taken note of the feedback, and we are committed to learning from this experience. We promise to come back stronger and do better next time,” the statement added.

Portable’s early departure brought an abrupt end to a rematch that had attracted considerable attention from both entertainment and sports fans in Lagos.

Rather than producing the decisive conclusion many had anticipated, the contest ended in controversy, leaving Charles Okocha and the event organisers to deal with the fallout from a chaotic night inside the ring.

The singer’s management concluded by thanking fans for their continued support, understanding and belief in Portable, despite the circumstances surrounding the bout.

The post Portable Reacts to Chaotic Boxing Rematch With Charles Okocha appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Nigerian street-pop singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, sensationally abandoned his celebrity boxing rematch against actor Charles Okocha after a chaotic opening round in Lagos.

The highly anticipated bout, tagged “Unfinished Business,” was the main event of the Chaos in the Ring card held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Victoria Island, on Friday night.

The contest quickly descended into drama as Portable and Okocha engaged in a physical confrontation that appeared to go beyond conventional boxing.

Portable reportedly turned the fight into a wrestling-style contest during the opening round, grabbing Okocha and taking him down onto the canvas.

Despite the referee’s attempts to restore order, Portable continued the confrontation even after the bell had sounded to signal the end of the first round.

The situation became increasingly chaotic as members of both fighters’ corners entered the ring to separate the two men.

After eventually being pulled away from Okocha, Portable appeared visibly agitated and moved around the ring in frustration.

He subsequently left the ring and remained outside for several minutes despite efforts to persuade him to return and continue the contest.

By the time Portable was eventually encouraged to reconsider, it was too late for the bout to resume.

Okocha was subsequently declared the winner via unanimous decision after Portable failed to return to the contest, bringing a bizarre end to their highly anticipated rematch.

The dramatic conclusion adds another chapter to the rivalry between the two entertainers.

Portable had defeated Okocha in their first celebrity boxing encounter in December 2023, winning by unanimous decision. Okocha later exercised a rematch clause to settle the score.

The rematch had generated considerable attention in the build-up, with both men trading verbal jabs and promising victory.

However, instead of a prolonged boxing contest, the fight ended amid scenes of confusion and controversy, with Portable’s decision to leave the ring ultimately costing him the opportunity to settle the rivalry on his terms.

The post Chaos in the Ring:Portable Abandons Ring After Chaotic First Round as Charles Okocha Wins Rematch Via Unanimous Decision  appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.