Reality TV star Phyna has defeated Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing in a celebrity boxing bout held in Lagos, securing her place in the history of Balmoral Promotions’ boxing series.
The fight took place on October 2 at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos as part of the Independence Day festivities and was featured at Balmoral Promotions’ “Chaos in the Ring” event.
Phyna, whose full name is Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, faced Nkechi Blessing in a scheduled four-round bout and emerged victorious after stopping the actress during the contest.
Following her victory, Phyna reportedly received a ₦50 million cash prize and a new car for winning the female bout.
The victory was particularly significant for the former Big Brother Naija winner, who noted that October 2 already held special meaning for her because it was the anniversary of her Big Brother Naija victory.
Taking to social media after the fight, Phyna described the boxing victory as another major milestone in her journey.
“Today marks the anniversary of the day I won BBN, and now, years later, I’m celebrating another historic victory becoming the first female boxer to step into this ring and win this fight,” she said.
The reality star said her transition from reality television to boxing was another example of her willingness to challenge herself and explore new opportunities.
“From reality TV to the boxing ring, I’ve always been willing to challenge myself, break barriers and prove that there is so much more to Phyna than what people see,” she added.
Phyna also dedicated the victory to women who have been told that they could not achieve certain things.
“This one is for every woman who has ever been told she couldn’t. We can. We will. And we absolutely should,” she said.
She thanked Balmoral Promotions and Bet9ja for giving her the opportunity to participate in the event, describing October 2 as a day of “victory, courage and new beginnings.”
The event also featured a men’s celebrity boxing contest between Carter Efe and Speed Darlington. Carter Efe retained his title after reportedly defeating Speed Darlington by unanimous decision.
After her victory over Nkechi Blessing, Phyna turned her attention to her next potential opponent, calling out Etinosa Idemudia. Etinosa reportedly accepted the challenge, potentially setting up another celebrity boxing showdown.
For Phyna, the victory represents another unexpected chapter in her public career, taking her from reality television to the boxing ring and adding a championship victory to her list of achievements.
The reality star made it clear that she intends to continue exploring the boxing world, declaring after the fight that she was only getting started.
