Nigerian rapper Speed Darlington has sparked fresh controversies on social media following his dramatic loss to singer Portable in a boxing match.
The much-anticipated bout, which had been hyped by months of online sparring between the two entertainers, ended abruptly in the first round, with Speed Darlington wheeled away in an ambulance.
Hours after the clash, Darlington broke his silence in a video posted to social media, where he alleged foul play on the part of Portable. According to him, the singer must have employed spiritual means, commonly referred to as ‘jazz’ or ‘juju,’ to overpower him in the ring.
“I wasn’t tired. I was strong,” Speed Darlington said. “But somehow I just couldn’t continue. That guy use jazz on me. I swear, if I knew, I for do my own juju before entering the ring.” His remarks have since gone viral, triggering debates among fans who either mocked or empathized with his statement.
The entertainer also revealed that he sustained a dislocated shoulder during the match, which further complicated his ability to continue. He claimed it likely happened due to the intensity of his wide punches during the early minutes of the bout. “My shoulder shift,” he added, wincing in pain. “It was the angle I was throwing punches from. I didn’t even feel it until I got out of the ring.”
Despite the pain and controversy, what seemed to hurt Speed Darlington the most was losing out on the prize money promised to the winner. He lamented that he had already planned to use the winnings to build a swimming pool in his village. “The money don go. My dream swimming pool for Imo State just vanish like that,” he said.
The match, which was streamed live on multiple platforms, quickly became one of the top trending topics across social media. While some fans took Speed Darlington’s “juju” accusations as part of his usual dramatic flair, others suggested he was simply unprepared for the fight and had underestimated Portable.
“This is classic Speed Darlington—always finding a new way to entertain, even in defeat,” one Twitter user wrote. Another added, “Na jazz dem dey use for boxing now? Naija entertainment don reach another level.”
The boxing match may have ended, but the drama surrounding it is far from over with fans already awaiting a possible rematch or response from Portable.
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