Controversial street-hop singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has apologised to fans and organisers after walking out of his celebrity boxing rematch against actor Charles Okocha following the opening round of their bout.

The apology came hours after Friday night’s contest, organised by Balmoral Group, ended abruptly when Portable declined to continue, leaving fans at the venue disappointed.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Portable’s management, Zeh Nation/Dr Zeh, apologised to the organisers, event crew, supporters and attendees, describing the outcome as regrettable.

“We sincerely apologise to the organisers, Balmoral Group, the entire event team, our fans, friends, family, and everyone who came out to support Portable at tonight’s celebrity boxing event,” the statement read.

The management acknowledged the disappointment caused by Portable’s decision to withdraw after the first round but appealed for understanding.

“We understand the disappointment caused by the outcome of the fight and by Portable’s decision to step away after the first round. While emotions can run high in moments like these, we respectfully ask everyone to respect his decision and perspective,” it stated.

Taking responsibility for the incident, the management expressed appreciation to fans for their continued support.

“On behalf of Portable’s management, we take full responsibility for the disappointment this may have caused. We remain grateful for the unwavering love and support shown to him throughout this journey,” it added.

The management also commended Balmoral Group for organising the event despite its controversial conclusion.

“We appreciate Balmoral Group and everyone involved for putting together a great event, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the statement said.

It assured supporters that lessons had been learnt and promised a better outing in future contests.

“We have taken note of the feedback, and we are committed to learning from this experience. We promise to come back stronger and do better next time,” it added.

The rematch had generated widespread anticipation after Okocha activated the rematch clause following his defeat to Portable in their first celebrity boxing bout in December 2023.

Ahead of Friday’s contest, both entertainers exchanged taunts on social media, with Portable hoping to rebound from his earlier defeat to content creator Carter Efe, while Okocha sought revenge for his previous loss.