Content creator and streamer Carter Efe has set his sights beyond Nigeria’s celebrity boxing scene after defeating rapper Speed Darlington in their much-anticipated clash at Balmoral Promotions’ Chaos in the Ring event in Lagos.

Efe stopped Speed Darlington in their four-round celebrity bout at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, on Thursday, October 1, retaining the celebrity boxing title he previously won against singer Habeeb “Portable” Badmus. The event formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.

The contest was closely watched following weeks of public exchanges between the two entertainers. Efe controlled much of the fight before the referee intervened after Speed Darlington stopped responding, resulting in a technical knockout victory for the streamer. The win extended Efe’s unbeaten run in the Chaos in the Ring celebrity boxing series.

Efe’s latest victory came after his May meeting with Portable, which he won by unanimous decision. All three judges scored that three-round contest 30-27 in his favour. Following that victory, businessman Emeka “E-Money” Okonkwo had pledged a ₦50 million reward.

Speaking after the Speed Darlington fight, Efe credited his partner, Taylor Jasmine, with giving him the motivation to secure the victory. He also acknowledged that the contest was not as easy as it might have appeared from outside the ring.

With another domestic celebrity bout now behind him, Efe said he wants to test himself against international opponents. He specifically mentioned American rapper, YouTuber and streamer DDG, as well as former world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., as names he would like to face.

DDG, whose real name is Darryl Dwayne Granberry Jr., has participated in celebrity boxing, including his 2021 bout against fellow internet personality Nate Wyatt. Mayweather, meanwhile, finished his professional boxing career with an unbeaten 50-0 record and later took part in exhibition contests following his retirement from professional competition.

Efe's comments, however, were framed as his own ambitions rather than confirmation that either DDG or Mayweather has agreed to fight him. No such international bout has been announced at this stage.

The entertainer also said his next appearance in the ring would come after his planned marriage to Taylor Jasmine, who he said lives in Georgia, United States. “When I get married to Taylor Jasmine, that’s when I’ll fight my next fight,” he said.

Beyond his own career, Efe also expressed interest in seeing entertainers Shank Comics and Kiekie face each other in a celebrity boxing contest, indicating that he would support efforts to make such a bout happen.

The Efe-Speed Darlington rivalry had been building for weeks before their October 1 meeting. Speed Darlington challenged Efe following the latter’s victory over Portable, leading to a series of heated exchanges during promotional activities.

Their tension spilled into a September press conference, where the two entertainers traded threats and had to be separated by security personnel. At another promotional appearance, Speed Darlington kicked Efe’s birthday cake to the ground. Firecrackers set off by members of Efe’s entourage also sparked a brief fire that was quickly put out with extinguishers.

The rivalry was eventually settled in the ring, with Efe walking away with the victory and retaining his celebrity boxing title.

The Lagos event also featured a women's celebrity boxing contest between former Big Brother Naija winner Phyna and actress Nkechi Blessing. Phyna stopped Nkechi Blessing in the fourth round, with the victory described by organisers and several reports as the first female celebrity boxing bout under Balmoral Promotions’ Chaos in the Ring series.

The professional headline bout saw Ghanaian boxer Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah defeat Nigeria’s Godday “Zodsolo” Appah by unanimous decision to claim the WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship.

The combination of celebrity and professional boxing made the Independence Day event one of the notable entertainment-sport attractions in Lagos, while Efe’s latest comments have opened the possibility of him seeking a bigger challenge outside Nigeria’s celebrity boxing circuit.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia