Phyna Marks Four Years Since BBNaija Triumph After Making Celebrity Boxing History.

Phyna Marks Four Years Since BBNaija Triumph After Making Celebrity Boxing History.

Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has marked the fourth anniversary of her reality television victory shortly after making history in Nigeria’s celebrity boxing scene.

Phyna won the seventh season of Big Brother Naija, tagged Level Up, on October 2, 2022. Four years later, the date coincided with another significant milestone in her public career following her victory over Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing in a historic female celebrity boxing contest.

The boxing bout was held on October 1 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of Balmoral Promotions’ Chaos in the Ring event. Phyna stopped Nkechi Blessing in the fourth and final round of their scheduled four round contest, becoming the winner of what multiple Nigerian media outlets described as the country’s first female celebrity boxing bout.

Following the victory, Phyna reflected on the significance of October 2 in her life, linking her BBNaija triumph with her latest achievement in the boxing ring. She described the transition from reality television to boxing as part of her effort to challenge herself and push beyond the expectations associated with her entertainment career.

The victory also came with a reported ₦50 million prize, while other reports said Phyna received a vehicle as part of the rewards associated with the event. She subsequently expressed interest in pursuing professional boxing and challenged actress Etinosa Idemudia, who watched the contest from ringside, to a potential future bout.

Phyna’s latest achievement adds a new dimension to the career of the Edo-born entertainer, whose national profile rose sharply after winning Big Brother Naija Season 7. Her boxing victory also places celebrity boxing within the growing intersection of Nigeria’s entertainment and sports industries, where popular entertainers are increasingly participating in organised exhibition and celebrity contests.

The Chaos in the Ring event featured other celebrity and professional boxing contests. Skit maker Carter Efe defeated rapper Speed Darlington in another four-round celebrity bout, while Ghanaian boxer Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah defeated Nigeria’s Godday “Zodsolo” Appah to claim the WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship.

For Phyna, October 2 now represents two major moments in her public journey: the day she won Big Brother Naija in 2022 and the day she celebrated that achievement after securing a history making victory in the boxing ring.