Reality TV star Phyna and actress Nkechi Blessing will face each other in a celebrity boxing bout at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, on October 1, 2026.

Balmoral Promotions announced the match on Instagram on Friday, adding the women to a Chaos in the Ring card that already features entertainers Speed Darlington and Carter Efe.

“Plot twist? Let’s see what the women can do,” the promoter wrote.

“The rivalry is real. Now, let’s see who backs it up when the bell rings.”

Balmoral Promotions said DAZN Boxing and SuperSport would broadcast the event live. It did not give the number of rounds or the rules for Phyna and Nkechi Blessing’s bout.

The promoter described their matchup as a rivalry but gave no details of what led to it. Neither woman’s preparations for the fight were addressed in the announcement.

Their addition gives the Independence Day event two celebrity bouts. Guardian Life had earlier reported that Speed Darlington and Carter Efe are also due to meet in the ring after exchanging words at a press conference.

Carter Efe, whose real name is Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, defeated singer Portable by unanimous decision in May. Speed Darlington, born Darlington Okoye, lost to Portable in 2025 but has continued to dispute the result.

The two entertainers traded taunts at the press conference. When Carter Efe asked Speed Darlington his age, the rapper replied, “I’m 170 years old,” before telling him, “I’m going to beat you.”

Professional boxers will also compete on the card. Nigerian cruiserweight Godday “Zodsolo” Appah is scheduled to face Ghanaian-born British boxer Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah in the headline professional bout.

Appah, who holds the WBO Africa cruiserweight title, predicted he would stop Gyimah within two rounds. He defeated Eworitse Ezra Arenyeka by majority decision in May and said a win on October 1 would carry meaning beyond his personal record.

“The win brings a lot of glory to my people, the Niger Delta people, the Nigerians, and I’m representing Nigeria for October 1st,” Appah said at the press conference.

Gyimah stopped Jamiu Animashaun in the first round of their April fight. Asked how he planned to approach Appah, he declined to reveal his tactics.

“I’m not going to be in public telling him what I’m going to do. I’ve been working so hard behind the door,” Gyimah said.
The other announced professional bouts are Arenyeka against Lekan Muibi, Basit “Joker Boy” Adebayo against Fatiu Ijomoni, and Yusuf Adeniji against David Tagoe.

Promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu has said Chaos in the Ring aims to give African boxers a wider audience. With Phyna and Nkechi Blessing now on the card, the organisers have added another celebrity contest, though the format of their fight has yet to be announced.