‘Mummy, Your Daughter Did Not Win, But…’ — Nkechi Blessing Pays Tribute to Late Mother After Phyna Defeat

Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday has paid an emotional tribute to her late mother following her defeat to Big Brother Naija winner Phyna in a celebrity boxing bout in Lagos.

The actress reflected on the experience in a social media post on Friday, October 2, 2026, sharing a photograph of herself with her late mother and describing her decision to enter the boxing ring as an act of courage.

Nkechi Blessing acknowledged that she did not win the contest but said she believed her performance would remain memorable to those who watched the fight.

“AFIANMA…..Your precious child was on a boxing ring for the first time in all my years on earth. I have never raised my hands to fight any soul, but yesterday I stood on an unfamiliar stage with just one thing: COURAGE,” she wrote.

She added: “Mummy, your daughter did not win, but her fight won’t leave the mouth of millions in a hurry.”

She says she trained for only two days.

Nkechi Blessing revealed that she had trained for only two days before facing Phyna.

Despite her limited preparation, she said she entered the ring before a large audience and fought as a warrior.

The actress described the contest as a major personal experience, noting that boxing was completely outside her usual professional field.

She also indicated that she would be willing to participate in another boxing contest despite the defeat.

“It was indeed a great experience even after training for just two days… Will I do this again? OH YES,” she wrote.

In another reaction following the bout, she said she intended to return to filmmaking, writing: “Now let’s go back to making movies cus I no be boxer.”

‘Mummy, were you watching?’

The emotional centre of Nkechi Blessing's message was her late mother, Gloria Obasi Sunday, whom she said she wanted to have around during the event.

The actress explained that she specifically requested that her mother's favourite song be played before she entered the ring.

“Mummy, were you watching? Did you also hear when they played your favourite song? I wanted you around; that was why I asked for that song,” she wrote.

She also thanked her mother for raising her to become what she described as a strong woman, fighter and “unstoppable child of grace.”

The actress ended the tribute by expressing her love for her late mother and saying she believed her mother would have been proud of her.

‘Jennifer was even crying’

Nkechi Blessing also recalled an emotional moment immediately before she entered the ring.

According to her, someone identified as Jennifer was already crying before the fight began.

She connected the emotional moment to her late mother and expressed the belief that her mother was watching and would be proud of her.

“Keep resting in peace, mummy.I love you forever,” she wrote.

Phyna wins the celebrity boxing bout.

Nkechi Blessing's tribute came a day after she faced Phyna in a highly publicised celebrity boxing contest organised by Balmoral Promotions at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The contest formed part of the “Chaos in the Ring” event and was the first female celebrity boxing bout staged under the series, according to reports.

Phyna eventually secured victory by knockout in the fourth round of the scheduled four-round contest.

The result followed weeks of public exchanges between the two entertainers before they eventually settled their rivalry inside the ring.

Phyna was subsequently presented with a ₦50 million prize and a car after the victory.

A different kind of victory for Nkechi Blessing

Although the official result went in Phyna's favour, Nkechi Blessing's post focused less on the defeat and more on the personal significance of taking part.

For the actress, entering a boxing ring for the first time represented an unfamiliar challenge that required her to overcome fear and perform before a large audience.

She also thanked Balmoral Promotions and Bet9ja for giving her the opportunity to participate, describing the experience as one she would not forget easily.

Her comments suggest that, despite the outcome, she regarded the event as an experience worth remembering.

The actress has also left the door open to another boxing appearance, even as she returns her attention to Nollywood.

For now, however, her most poignant reflection has been directed toward her late mother — the woman she says she wished could have been there to watch her step into the ring.

“Mummy, your daughter did not win,” Nkechi Blessing wrote, “but her fight won’t leave the mouth of millions in a hurry.”

Source: Gistreel's original report. The boxing result and her post-fight comments are also reported by Punch and The Guardian.