Music executive and businessman Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, has described celebrity boxing as the next major attraction in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, predicting that the trend will continue to gain popularity.
E-Money, who is among the key figures behind the Chaos in the Ring celebrity boxing series, said the sport had moved from being largely overlooked to becoming a major part of the country’s entertainment scene.
He made the remarks during an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, where he discussed the changing trends in Nigerian pop culture.
“It is actually taking over the entertainment space,” he said.
“Initially in Nigeria, nobody really paid attention to boxing; when you talked about the sport, people would just ignore it—including myself. But when they brought me on board, I got deeply interested. In fact, this is the next big thing in entertainment.”
The businessman also revealed that another major celebrity boxing event was being planned for December, with some prominent entertainers expected to participate.
Although he declined to disclose the names of the proposed participants, he said the announcement would be made by Borra Entertainment, which he identified as being responsible for revealing the fight line-up.
“The next fight is coming up next month in December, and it involves top-tier celebrities,” he said.
E-Money further expressed interest in participating in a celebrity boxing contest, saying he was willing to step into the ring if a suitable opponent could be found.
“Honestly speaking, I would love to step into the ring myself if I can find a worthy match. If you know anyone who matches my calibre, let me know and let them come forward. I am ready,” he said.
The growing popularity of celebrity boxing in Nigeria has seen entertainers and social media personalities turn public disagreements into organised sporting contests, attracting significant attention from fans and entertainment audiences.
Recent bouts involving skit maker Carter Efe and singer Portable, as well as reality television star Phyna and actress Nkechi Blessing, have further fuelled interest in the trend.
The development has also generated discussions about the relationship between celebrity boxing and professional boxing, particularly regarding earnings, audience attention and opportunities for established athletes.
While promoters have argued that celebrity participation attracts audiences and commercial investment to the sport, some professional boxers have raised concerns about the financial gap between celebrity contests and traditional boxing events.