WBA interim 130lbs champion Chris ‘Primetime’ Colbert is aiming for the beasts of the super-featherweight division should he navigate Saturday night’s encounter with the stiff-punching Jaime Arboleda.
Colbert (14-0, 5 KOs) will be headlining his first nationally televised bout in the US on the Premier Boxing Champions event on Showtime at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The New Yorker believes he has what it takes to mix it with the division’s elite and plans to show why he is regarded as one of the finest American prospects in boxing.
“I always knew I was going to get here,” said Colbert. “It’s all God’s plan. This is just going to be another day for me and I’ll show everyone why I’m one of the best 130-pounders in the world.
“This is one of the most stacked divisions in boxing and I love competing in it. It’s great to be getting noticed in a division that has this much talent and hopefully it’ll lead to me getting the big fights that I need. I don’t feel like there’s any certain fighter I’m targeting, but Gervonta Davis, Leo Santa Cruz and Jamel Herring would all be great fights for me. Beating them would help me become ‘the guy’ in the division.”
Colbert won his WBA belt with a decision over former world champion Jezzrel Corrales in January, scoring a 10thround knockdown in a performance of patience and poise. He plans to employ the same measured approach against another Panamanian Arboleda (16-1, 13 KOs) this Saturday.
“Against Corrales I learned not to rush,” said Brooklyn’s Colbert. “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. I can’t just go rush in there and expect everyone to get knocked out. I had to take my time, do what I do best and stick to my gameplan.
“Come December 12, I’m ready for whatever he brings. I expect him to bring pressure and ‘try’ to make me tired because that’s the only chance he has. He can’t outbox me. That’s not happening. But I love to bang inside and I’m ready for whatever he does. I hope he doesn’t run or clinch me because I’d love to get the knockout and get him out of there early.”
Main image: Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions.