Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing has maintained that her defeat to reality TV star Phyna has not diminished her status in the entertainment industry.
Phyna, whose real name is Ijeoma Otabor, defeated Nkechi by a fourth-round technical knockout during the Chaos in the Ring Independence Edition held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on October 1, 2026.
However, the bout marked Nigeria’s first female celebrity boxing contest and brought the long-running public feud between the two entertainers into the boxing ring.
Phyna entered the contest after training for more than two weeks, while Nkechi revealed that she had prepared for only two days. During the fight, Phyna relied on her movement and speed, repeatedly moving around the ring as Nkechi attempted to close the distance and land punches.
The actress later joked about Phyna’s tactics, saying the reality star spent much of the contest running around the ring.
Phyna eventually secured the victory in the fourth round after landing a decisive punch that sent Nkechi to the canvas. The referee subsequently stopped the contest, handing Phyna the knockout victory.
Despite the loss, Nkechi insisted that the outcome did not change her influence as an entertainer. She described herself as a champion and maintained that she remained a trendsetter. She also thanked her coach for helping her prepare for the contest despite having only two days to train.
Notably, the fight followed weeks of public exchanges between the two celebrities, with their disagreements eventually developing into a highly publicised boxing rivalry. Phyna had earlier predicted that she would stop Nkechi in the second round but ultimately needed until the fourth round to secure the victory.
Following her win, Phyna received ₦50 million, a championship belt and a new car. The reality star also expressed interest in taking boxing more seriously and pursuing the sport professionally.
After the contest, Phyna reportedly challenged actress Etinosa Idemudia, who was present at the event, to a future celebrity boxing bout. Etinosa accepted the challenge, potentially setting up another high-profile contest.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
