Tag: Chris Colbert

Tugstsogt Nyambayar excited to fight Chris Colbert, coming to win

Tugstsogt Nyambayar is excited to fight Chris Colbert and coming to win on Saturday in Carson, Calif.

Tugstsogt Nyambayar was taken aback when he received the call last week.

Promoter Tom Brown was on the phone with an offer to fight young 130-pound star Chris Colbert on short notice after original opponent Yuriorkis Gamboa pulled out with an injury. Nyambayar paused for a moment and then said, in so many words, “Heck yes.”

He will meet Colbert on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. The fight will be televised on Showtime.

“When they offered the fight, I was like, ‘Whaaaaaaat?’” he told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “I was kind of surprised. I talked it over with my trainer John [Pullman] and accepted the fight.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VPlxTDRvPk

Nyambayar (12-1, 9 KOs) certainly isn’t lacking in confidence given the challenge he faces. Not only is Colbert one of the most-gifted fighters in the world, the Mongolian will have to move up from 126 pounds for the fight and has had limited time prepare.

The 2012 Olympic silver medalist, who is gifted himself, had been in the gym but he didn’t begin training specially for Colbert until about a week ago.

“It doesn’t really matter now because I accepted the fight on short notice,” he said. “If you’re a real fighter, you have to be ready to fight no matter what. … I will do everything I can to win the fight.

“I’m here to win, not just to take the fight.”

Fans might see this as a daunting challenge for Nyambayar but he’s certainly not fazed. Pullman made that clear.

“Tug has been fighting elite competition his whole life,” the trainer said. “Chris Colbert is very good, I respect his skills, his natural talent. He’s a gritty, hungry, successful young fighter. But he doesn’t do anything Tug hasn’t seen.

“… It’s just his whole DNA makeup. He’s a fighter to his core. Nothing intimidates him, nothing worries him.”

Not even moving up in weight? Nope.

Pullman described 126 pounds as his fighter’s “sweet spot” but he hearkened back to the past, when “junior” and “super” weight divisions didn’t exist. Lightweights jumped to welterweight and welterweights jumped to middleweight, which worked out fine.

He said he’s more concerned about Colbert’s ability than the weight issue.

“If it’s the right fight, the right opponent, then [weight] isn’t a problem,” Pullman said.

Nyambayar’s take on participating in his first fell-fledged junior lightweight bout? “I will tell you after the fight,” he said.

Nyambayar is only two fights renived from his only title shot, a one-sided, unanimous-decision loss to longtime 126-pound champion Gary Russell Jr. in February of last year. He bounced back with a split-decision victory over slick Cobia Breedy in September, although it was a closer fight than some expected.

One might say his limitations were exposed in those fights. He says the experience gained in those setbacks will make him a better fighter.

“I learned a lot in those fights,” he said. “I just regrouped and [maintained] my motivation for future fights. … Colbert is a good fighter, a good boxer. I’m also a good fighter. Let’s see what happens.”

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Tugstsogt Nyambayar excited to fight Chris Colbert, coming to win

Tugstsogt Nyambayar is excited to fight Chris Colbert and coming to win on Saturday in Carson, Calif.

Tugstsogt Nyambayar was taken aback when he received the call last week.

Promoter Tom Brown was on the phone with an offer to fight young 130-pound star Chris Colbert on short notice after original opponent Yuriorkis Gamboa pulled out with an injury. Nyambayar paused for a moment and then said, in so many words, “Heck yes.”

He will meet Colbert on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. The fight will be televised on Showtime.

“When they offered the fight, I was like, ‘Whaaaaaaat?’” he told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “I was kind of surprised. I talked it over with my trainer John [Pullman] and accepted the fight.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VPlxTDRvPk

Nyambayar (12-1, 9 KOs) certainly isn’t lacking in confidence given the challenge he faces. Not only is Colbert one of the most-gifted fighters in the world, the Mongolian will have to move up from 126 pounds for the fight and has had limited time prepare.

The 2012 Olympic silver medalist, who is gifted himself, had been in the gym but he didn’t begin training specially for Colbert until about a week ago.

“It doesn’t really matter now because I accepted the fight on short notice,” he said. “If you’re a real fighter, you have to be ready to fight no matter what. … I will do everything I can to win the fight.

“I’m here to win, not just to take the fight.”

Fans might see this as a daunting challenge for Nyambayar but he’s certainly not fazed. Pullman made that clear.

“Tug has been fighting elite competition his whole life,” the trainer said. “Chris Colbert is very good, I respect his skills, his natural talent. He’s a gritty, hungry, successful young fighter. But he doesn’t do anything Tug hasn’t seen.

“… It’s just his whole DNA makeup. He’s a fighter to his core. Nothing intimidates him, nothing worries him.”

Not even moving up in weight? Nope.

Pullman described 126 pounds as his fighter’s “sweet spot” but he hearkened back to the past, when “junior” and “super” weight divisions didn’t exist. Lightweights jumped to welterweight and welterweights jumped to middleweight, which worked out fine.

He said he’s more concerned about Colbert’s ability than the weight issue.

“If it’s the right fight, the right opponent, then [weight] isn’t a problem,” Pullman said.

Nyambayar’s take on participating in his first fell-fledged junior lightweight bout? “I will tell you after the fight,” he said.

Nyambayar is only two fights renived from his only title shot, a one-sided, unanimous-decision loss to longtime 126-pound champion Gary Russell Jr. in February of last year. He bounced back with a split-decision victory over slick Cobia Breedy in September, although it was a closer fight than some expected.

One might say his limitations were exposed in those fights. He says the experience gained in those setbacks will make him a better fighter.

“I learned a lot in those fights,” he said. “I just regrouped and [maintained] my motivation for future fights. … Colbert is a good fighter, a good boxer. I’m also a good fighter. Let’s see what happens.”

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Chris Colbert dominates, stops Jaime Arboleda in Round 11

Junior lightweight contender Chris Colbert dominated and then stopped Jaime Arboleda in Round 11 on Saturday.

Chris Colbert made his statement.

The junior lightweight contender predicted he would knock out Jaime Arboleda on Saturday night and he delivered, stopping his Panamanian foe in the 11th round of a fight he had dominated.

Colbert (15-0, 6 KOs) is known for his boxing skills but wanted to demonstrate that he can also hurt his opponents. He did so several times at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn.

Arboleda, supposedly a big puncher, threw more punches than Colbert but the latter landed the harder, cleaner shots. That was case whether the fighters stood toe-to-toe or Colbert took pot shots from the outside, whether Colbert fought from an orthodox stance or a southpaw.

Colbert took the fight out of Arboleda (16-2, 13 KOs) in the final seconds of Round 9, when he put the loser down with a left hook.

In Round 10, Arboleda didn’t fight with the aggression he had in the previous nine rounds and Colbert picked him apart. Then, in Round 11, Arboleda went down from a flurry of shots, got up and went down again from a combination.

Arboleda got up once again but he was hurt. Colbert unloaded one more barrage of hard punches, prompting referee Steve Willis to stop it. The official time was 1:37 of Round 11.

In preliminary bouts, junior welterweight prospect Richardson Hitchins (12-0, 5 KOs) defeated Argenis Mendez (25-6-3, 12 KOs) by a split decision in a 10-round junior welterweight fight.

And Ronald Ellis (18-1-2, 12 KOs) defeated Matvey Korobov (28-4-1, 14 KOs) when Korobov injured his Achilles tendon and couldn’t continue after five rounds.

 

Chris Colbert dominates, stops Jaime Arboleda in Round 11

Junior lightweight contender Chris Colbert dominated and then stopped Jaime Arboleda in Round 11 on Saturday.

Chris Colbert made his statement.

The junior lightweight contender predicted he would knock out Jaime Arboleda on Saturday night and he delivered, stopping his Panamanian foe in the 11th round of a fight he had dominated.

Colbert (15-0, 6 KOs) is known for his boxing skills but wanted to demonstrate that he can also hurt his opponents. He did so several times at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn.

Arboleda, supposedly a big puncher, threw more punches than Colbert but the latter landed the harder, cleaner shots. That was case whether the fighters stood toe-to-toe or Colbert took pot shots from the outside, whether Colbert fought from an orthodox stance or a southpaw.

Colbert took the fight out of Arboleda (16-2, 13 KOs) in the final seconds of Round 9, when he put the loser down with a left hook.

In Round 10, Arboleda didn’t fight with the aggression he had in the previous nine rounds and Colbert picked him apart. Then, in Round 11, Arboleda went down from a flurry of shots, got up and went down again from a combination.

Arboleda got up once again but he was hurt. Colbert unloaded one more barrage of hard punches, prompting referee Steve Willis to stop it. The official time was 1:37 of Round 11.

In preliminary bouts, junior welterweight prospect Richardson Hitchins (12-0, 5 KOs) defeated Argenis Mendez (25-6-3, 12 KOs) by a split decision in a 10-round junior welterweight fight.

And Ronald Ellis (18-1-2, 12 KOs) defeated Matvey Korobov (28-4-1, 14 KOs) when Korobov injured his Achilles tendon and couldn’t continue after five rounds.

 

Chris Colbert says he might spring surprise on Jaime Arboleda

Chris Colbert says he might spring surprise on Jaime Arboleda on Saturday.

Chris Colbert isn’t concerned about his knockout percentage.

The gifted junior lightweight contender is slick, like a Pernell Whitaker or Floyd Mayweather, not a powerful puncher, at least according to the numbers. He’s 14-0, with only five knockouts. And he’s OK with that as long as he continues to win.

Colbert faces Jaime Arboleda (16-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. (Showtime)

“Knockouts aren’t important,” he told Boxing Junkie this week. “The name of the game is boxing. I understand that knockouts make you more money, make you more noticeable to people, but the name of the game is hit and not be hit.

“That’s what I’m good at. And I have fun doing it.”

Chris Colbert (background) put Jezreel Corrales down in Round 10 of their fight. Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions

In fact, Arboleda is the one with the high knockout percentage. That doesn’t faze Colbert, who said he’s accustomed to sparring with bigger fighters and has had no issues in the gym.

One reason for that: They can’t hit him cleanly. He expects more of the same when he faces Arboleda, a 26-year-old Panamanian based in Miami.

“I’ve fought big guys, I’ve sparred with big, strong guys,” he said. “I’m prepared for anything they bring. They say [Arboleda] has power. That’s never something I’m worried about.

“You can’t hit what you can’t see. To use that power, I have to be at the end of the punch. That’s not going to happen.”

If anything, Colbert said, he might have a surprise for Arboleda.

The 24-year-old product of Brooklyn is coming off a wide decision over Jezreel Corrales in January but put Corrales down in the 10th round and, in the bout before that, he stopped Miguel Beltran Jr. in the first round.

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Obviously, he has the ability to hurt anyone with the right punch. And, in fact, he said he’s “coming to shock the world” on Saturday. Does that mean he’s predicting a knockout of Arboleda? “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying,” he said.

That might have something to do with how he’s feeling.

“I have to wait and see come this fight, to see what the power is like,” he said. “I feel like I got a little big stronger. Honestly, I’ve been hurting guys the last couple of fights. I knocked them out or dropped them.

“I feel like my man strength is coming in. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to be known as a knockout artist. I’m known for beating people.”

Chris Colbert says he might spring surprise on Jaime Arboleda

Chris Colbert says he might spring surprise on Jaime Arboleda on Saturday.

Chris Colbert isn’t concerned about his knockout percentage.

The gifted junior lightweight contender is slick, like a Pernell Whitaker or Floyd Mayweather, not a powerful puncher, at least according to the numbers. He’s 14-0, with only five knockouts. And he’s OK with that as long as he continues to win.

Colbert faces Jaime Arboleda (16-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. (Showtime)

“Knockouts aren’t important,” he told Boxing Junkie this week. “The name of the game is boxing. I understand that knockouts make you more money, make you more noticeable to people, but the name of the game is hit and not be hit.

“That’s what I’m good at. And I have fun doing it.”

Chris Colbert (background) put Jezreel Corrales down in Round 10 of their fight. Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions

In fact, Arboleda is the one with the high knockout percentage. That doesn’t faze Colbert, who said he’s accustomed to sparring with bigger fighters and has had no issues in the gym.

One reason for that: They can’t hit him cleanly. He expects more of the same when he faces Arboleda, a 26-year-old Panamanian based in Miami.

“I’ve fought big guys, I’ve sparred with big, strong guys,” he said. “I’m prepared for anything they bring. They say [Arboleda] has power. That’s never something I’m worried about.

“You can’t hit what you can’t see. To use that power, I have to be at the end of the punch. That’s not going to happen.”

If anything, Colbert said, he might have a surprise for Arboleda.

The 24-year-old product of Brooklyn is coming off a wide decision over Jezreel Corrales in January but put Corrales down in the 10th round and, in the bout before that, he stopped Miguel Beltran Jr. in the first round.

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Obviously, he has the ability to hurt anyone with the right punch. And, in fact, he said he’s “coming to shock the world” on Saturday. Does that mean he’s predicting a knockout of Arboleda? “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying,” he said.

That might have something to do with how he’s feeling.

“I have to wait and see come this fight, to see what the power is like,” he said. “I feel like I got a little big stronger. Honestly, I’ve been hurting guys the last couple of fights. I knocked them out or dropped them.

“I feel like my man strength is coming in. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to be known as a knockout artist. I’m known for beating people.”

Chris Colbert returns vs. Jaime Arboleda on Saturday: Preview

Junior lightweight contender Chris Colbert returns to the ring against Jaime Arboleda on Saturday on Showtime.

Chris Colbert returns to the ring against Jaime Arboleda on Saturday on Showtime.

CHRIS COLBERT (14-0, 5 KOs)
VS. JAIME ARBOLEDA (16-1, 13 KOs)

Chris Colbert (background) stopped Miguel Beltran Jr. last year.  Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions
  • When: Saturday, Dec. 12
  • Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior lightweight (12 rounds)
  • At stake: Colbert’s WBA “interim” title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Ronald Ellis vs. Matvey Korobov, 10 rounds, middleweights; Richardson Hitchins vs. Argenis Mendez, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Colbert UD
  • Background: Colbert had an excellent amateur career, qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials before deciding to turn professional in part because he felt U.S. officials had decided that Shakur Stevenson would be selected in his weight class. He reportedly had an amateur record of 103-3. And he’s carried his success into the pro ranks, easily outboxing and/or stopping everyone he has faced, including a unanimous decision over Jezzrel Corrales in January. He’s ranked No. 1 by the WBA – and it’s “interim” titleholder – even though he has yet to beat a top-tier opponent. He could challenge WBA titleholder Leo Santa Cruz next year if things go well on Saturday. Arboleda, 26, is a solid boxer with eye-catching power from Panama. He suffered a shock third-round knockout loss against Recky Dulay in his U.S. debut in 2017 but has won his six fights since the setback, five by knockout. He’s coming of a split-decision victory over capable Jayson Velez in February. Colbert probably won’t have too much trouble if he can avoid getting caught by a big punch.

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Chris Colbert returns vs. Jaime Arboleda on Saturday: Preview

Junior lightweight contender Chris Colbert returns to the ring against Jaime Arboleda on Saturday on Showtime.

Chris Colbert returns to the ring against Jaime Arboleda on Saturday on Showtime.

CHRIS COLBERT (14-0, 5 KOs)
VS. JAIME ARBOLEDA (16-1, 13 KOs)

Chris Colbert (background) stopped Miguel Beltran Jr. last year.  Stephanie Trapp / TGB Promotions
  • When: Saturday, Dec. 12
  • Where: Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Conn.
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior lightweight (12 rounds)
  • At stake: Colbert’s WBA “interim” title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Ronald Ellis vs. Matvey Korobov, 10 rounds, middleweights; Richardson Hitchins vs. Argenis Mendez, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Colbert UD
  • Background: Colbert had an excellent amateur career, qualifying for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials before deciding to turn professional in part because he felt U.S. officials had decided that Shakur Stevenson would be selected in his weight class. He reportedly had an amateur record of 103-3. And he’s carried his success into the pro ranks, easily outboxing and/or stopping everyone he has faced, including a unanimous decision over Jezzrel Corrales in January. He’s ranked No. 1 by the WBA – and it’s “interim” titleholder – even though he has yet to beat a top-tier opponent. He could challenge WBA titleholder Leo Santa Cruz next year if things go well on Saturday. Arboleda, 26, is a solid boxer with eye-catching power from Panama. He suffered a shock third-round knockout loss against Recky Dulay in his U.S. debut in 2017 but has won his six fights since the setback, five by knockout. He’s coming of a split-decision victory over capable Jayson Velez in February. Colbert probably won’t have too much trouble if he can avoid getting caught by a big punch.

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Chris Colbert outpoints reluctant Jezreel Corrales in ugly fight

Chris Colbert defeated Jezreel Corrales by a unanimous decision on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Sometimes important victories aren’t pretty.

That was the case on Saturday for Chris Colbert, who was frustrated much of his fight against slick, yet reluctant Jezreel Corrales but emerged with a unanimous-decision victory on the Julian Williams-Jeison Rosario card Saturday in Philadelphia.

With the victory, Colbert claimed the “interim” WBA junior lightweight title. Leo Santa Cruz is the actual WBA 130-pound champion.

Colbert (14-0, 5 KOs) was the aggressor throughout the fight Saturday but Corrales, an excellent boxer, did everything possible to avoid engagement – run, hold (excessively) and only occasionally throw counter punches.

As a result, Colbert had to work hard for every punch he was able to land. And he landed more than enough to win the fight.

Corrales (23-4, 9 KOs) came out of his defensive posture at times during the fight, which allowed him to land some clean punches and win a few rounds, but not enough to seriously challenge Colbert.

To his credit, Colbert never stopped charging forward. And his persistence paid off most in the 10th round, when a short left-right combination put Corrales down.

He also wobbled Corrales in Round 11 and, a few seconds before the end the round, he tossed the Panamanian through the ropes and out of the ring.

The final scores were 116-111, 117-110, 117-110.

“Corrales is a great fighter,” Colbert said. “… He’s very awkward, he’s slick, he’s fast. I was kind of hard to catch him because he was running.”

Was it a great performance by Colbert? No. At the same time, Colbert worked with what Corrales gave him, which wasn’t much. And he had his hand raised.

Colbert said he would like to fight Santa Cruz for the title but, if it doesn’t happen, he’ll be patient. He’s only 23 years old.

“I’m not ducking nobody,” he said. “I’m not dodging nobody. I’m here to stay.”

Also on the card, in a six-round junior middleweight bout, 19-year-old prospect Joey Spencer (10-0, 7 KOs) defeated Erik Spring (13-4-2, 1 KO) by a shutout decision.