Brooklyn’s skilful Chris Colbert cantered to a straightforward points victory over rugged Mongolian Tugststogt Nyambayar to retain his WBA Interim super-featherweight title at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on Saturday night.
Colbert was far too smooth for former WBC featherweight title challenger Nyambayar (12-2, 9 KOs) who stepped up in weight to take the fight on a fortnight’s notice following the withdrawal through injury of originally scheduled opponent Yuriorkis Gamboa.
Scores were 118-110 (twice) and 117-111 as the New Yorker used his superior jab, workrate and ring smarts to handily outfox the aggression of the Los Angeles-based challenger.
Photo: Esther Lin/Showtime.
Colbert’s fast flurries and delivery proved too much. Nyambayar plugged away and had some joy to the body, but he was unable to make a dent in the nimble, switch-hitting belt holder. By the middle rounds, Nyambayar’s nose was bleeding and he was locked in a losing cause. The only time Colbert looked ruffled came through head clashes in the fourth and fifth rounds. Otherwise, he was in complete control of proceedings.
“We had a tremendous training camp,” said Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs). “We sparred a lot with a bigger guy in Michel Rivera, so I had a lot of practice using my speed and jab in camp. The jab is always a key in this sport.”
“He carried power for a 126-pounder, Boxing is about hitting and not getting hit. I had to use my Muhammad Ali tactics and float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. This was a great fight and ‘Tug’ did a great job coming in off only a week and a half of training for me. I take off my hat to him and wish him nothing but the best in his career.
“I’m number one in the WBA. Al Haymon, you know what to do. It’s my time, ‘Prime Time’ on Showtime. Hopefully, we can be back again by the end of the year. If not, I trust in God’s plan and Al Haymon’s plan.”
In the chief supporting bout, Dominican Michel Rivera (21-0, 14 KOs) rose from a knockdown to KO Spaniard Jon Fernandez (21-2, 18 KOs) in the eighth round of a WBA lightweight title eliminator.
The Miami-based Rivera dusted himself off after tasting the canvas from a right hand in the sixth to wipe out Fernandez two rounds later with a thumping right hand after teeing him up with a jab. Referee Jack Reiss waved it off immediately.
“I’m so excited and beyond happy to get this win,” said Rivera. “Fernandez was a strong, experienced opponent that forced me to change the game plan I had going in. I knew since the first round that I would have to be careful with him.
“He had heavy hands and was taller than me, but I was faster and more skilled overall. I want the fight with Rolando Romero next. Once I do face him, I would like to go up against Gervonta Davis or Teofimo López.”
Main image: Sean Michael Ham/Premier Boxing Champions.