Itauma puts Okocha through his paces while Esehpo readies Portable for a second showdown

Celebrity boxer Charles Okocha has stepped up his training for the highly anticipated rematch against street artiste Habeeb "Portable" Badmus, scheduled for July 31, with guidance from WBO Intercontinental heavyweight champion Moses Itauma, as the stage is set for Chaos in the Ring 4 in Lagos.

n

Okocha recently shared a glimpse into his rigorous training regimen, posting footage of a session with Itauma on social media, where he referred to the British-Nigerian fighter as "the champ" as he gears up for the rematch, following Portable's unanimous decision win in their initial encounter.

n

Meanwhile, Portable has continued to hone his skills under the tutelage of WBA Africa lightweight champion Taiwo "Esehpo" Agbaje in Sango Ota, as both fighters prepare for their upcoming bout.

n

Moses Itauma, born to a Nigerian father and Slovakian mother in Kezmarok, Slovakia, before relocating to Chatham, Kent, in 2008, boasts an impressive professional record of 13 wins, including 11 knockouts, and currently ranks first in the world at heavyweight with both the WBA and WBO.

n

Itauma is slated to face off against Filip Hrgovic on August 29 at the O2 Arena in London, in a highly anticipated match.

n

Ezekiel Adamu, CEO of Balmoral Group Promotions, confirmed that the rematch between Okocha and Portable was initiated at Okocha's request, following a tumultuous press conference at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton, Ikeja, Lagos, which escalated into a physical altercation between the two men.

n

According to Adamu, "They fought before, Charles wants a rematch, he activated a rematch clause, so we expected that, and we will make it happen," setting the stage for the upcoming bout.

n

Portable issued a stern warning to his opponent during the press conference, stating, "You that I have beaten before, I will break your bones, fight is coming," as tensions between the two fighters continue to rise.

n

Okocha, however, remains unfazed, dismissing their initial meeting and vowing a different outcome, saying, "Let me tell you something, I will kill you in the ring, I am fearless," as he prepares for the rematch.

n

Okocha further emphasized that the upcoming bout will be a decisive one, stating, "We will see who the man is on the 31st of July, everyone knows the first one was not a real fight, but this time it is the real deal."

n

Elsewhere on the card, Agbaje is set to face South African fighter Ayabonga Sonjika, after other opponents withdrew from the bout, and has expressed confidence in his preparations, targeting an early stoppage.

n

The July 31 event will also feature a rematch between street-pop artistes Mr Real (Okafor Victor) and Idowest (Adekunle Idowu), whose long-running social media feud spilled over into the press conference.

n

Additionally, the bill includes a WBO Africa cruiserweight title defence by champion Godday Appah against challenger Lekan "The Engine" Muibi, and a bout between Rilwan Lawal and Yusuf Adeniji.

n

According to Adamu, the event will be broadcast on DAZN and local channels, in addition to being available at the venue, ensuring that fans can catch all the action from Chaos in the Ring 4.