A World Boxing Organisation (WBO) cruiserweight title bout between Ezra Arenyeka and Godday Appah will headline Chaos in the Ring 4, which will take place on May 1, at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The bout, which is billed as a symbolic Peace Fight between the Ijaw and Itsekiri communities of the Niger Delta, was announced at a press conference in Lagos by promoters Balmoral Group Promotions and Amir Khan Promotions in conjunction with the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C).
Present at the press conference were CEO of Balmoral Group Promotions, Ezekiel Adama, President of NBB of C, Rafiu Ladipo and Secretary of the boxing body Remi Aboderin.
Also on the card is a celebrity bout between popular streamer Carter Efe and music star Portable.
Speaking on the title bout between Appah and Arenyeka, Adamu said:”We don’t want to fight with guns or weapons anymore. We want to settle the score in the ring.”
Adamu disclosed that the winner of the Arenyeka-Appah bout would be named a Peace Ambassador for the Niger Delta region, reinforcing the event’s message of unity.
Adamu said the card was structured to grow the sport’s appeal while giving back to the community.
“We are combining entertainment with professional boxing to make the sport more popular. The card will feature both celebrity and professional fights, and every event we organise must contribute positively to the community.”
He referenced the Ring of Hope Foundation as evidence of that commitment. “After one of our previous events, we awarded scholarships to 20 students through the Ring of Hope Foundation,” he added.
In his remarks Ladipo hailed Balmoral Promotions for their efforts in elevating the standard of professional boxing in Nigeria.
Ladipo went on to give assurance that safety measures would be strictly enforced across all bouts on the night, including that of Portable and Carter Efe.
“Even though the Carter Efe and Portable bout is a celebrity fight, the same safety standards still apply. Every fighter must undergo medical tests, including blood pressure checks and full physical assessments before entering the ring,” Ladipo said.
Arenyeka (15-2, 12 KOs) and Appah (14-2, 13 KOs) who both expressed their thoughts at the presser, acknowledging their friendship but stated that it would be a different ball game once they step into the ring
According to Arenyeka: “We are friends, but once we step into the ring we leave that behind. We will do our job and give the fans excitement. May the best man win.”
On his part Appah said:”We may be friends outside the ring, but inside the ring we will put on a show. This is one of the biggest opportunities of my career and this fight carries a strong message of peace for the Niger Delta.”
Meanwhile, other bouts on the card include teenage sensation Raheem Animashaun (19-0, 12 KOs) take on , Tanzanian veteran Emmanuel Amos (22-10-1, 13 KOs), Ghana’s Elvis Ahorgah (15-4, 13 KOs) against Newcastle’s Joe Laws (15-4, 5 KOs) in a super-middleweight contest and British boxer Michael McKinson (27-2, 4 KOs) faces undefeated Algerian prospect Mohammad Sahnoun (8-0, 6 KOs).
Also, national middleweight champion Rasheed Adeyemo (16-2, 9 KOs) will square off with Tanzania’s Nicolaus Mdoe (15-8-2, 11 KOs), Basit Adebayo (9-0-1, 4 KOs) against Loren Japhet (20-9-3, 4 KOs) and a welterweight clash between UK-based Ghanaian Samuel Antwi (18-2, 8 KOs) and Congolese veteran Paul Kamanga (24-3, 13 KOs).
