Avila Perspective, Chap. 140: Colbert vs Nyambayar and Other L.A. Fights

Finding the next big thing may seem as easy as finding a Chris Colbert. It’s not easy.

Brooklyn’s Colbert (15-0, 6 KOs) tangles with Tug Nyambayar (12-1, 9 KOs) of Mongolia on Saturday, July 3, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. Showtime will televise the TGB Promotions fight card.

Colbert’s speed will test Nyambayar’s toughness in a super featherweight battle for the interim WBA title. It’s set for 12 rounds.

Most believe speed and reflexes can out-match anything including strength. Go on believing that and you will be severely disappointed in the end.

Though Colbert does have the gifts of athleticism he’s shown more than sizzling combinations and speed afoot. He’s also shown fighting instincts and most importantly of all, the ability to take a shot and keep going.

Nyambayar has only one loss on his resume and that came against world champion Gary Russell Jr. for the WBC featherweight title back in February 2020. No one else has beaten the 2012 Olympic silver medalist.

The famous outdoor stadium where so many “Fight of the Year” bouts took place like Timothy Bradley Jr. and Ruslan Provodnikov in 2013 or Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez in 2008, will finally be open to 100 percent capacity.

Few places rival the Dignity Health Sports Park which was formerly the StubHub Center and before that the Home Depot Center. It’s a tennis stadium that seems perfectly suited for prizefighting.

“This is my first 130 pounds (fight) but I’m ready for this,” said Nyambayar who trains in Los Angeles. “We are here to win. My team is here to win. That’s it.”

Colbert doesn’t believe anyone from 126 pounds can move up a weight division and compete with him.

“He knows he is in for some trouble. Nobody can take a fight in a week and fight me,” said Colbert. “I know damn well he ain’t beating me.”

Lightweight contenders Michel Rivera (20-0, 13 KOs) and Jon Fernandez (21-1, 18 KOs) also clash in a 12-round bout.

Rivera hails from the Dominican Republic and trains out of Miami, Florida. He’s eager to prove himself.

“I know this is my opportunity. This is my time.  I know he hits hard,” said Rivera.

Fernandez is nearly six-feet-tall and fights out of Spain. Knockouts are his game.

“He is a good boxer but this is a fight to be in the big leagues,” said Fernandez of his foe. “This Saturday fight is a 50-50 proposition.”

Doors open at 4 p.m. For tickets go to this link: https://www.ticketsonsale.com/tickets/premier-boxing-champions-colbert-vs-nyambayar-dignity-health-sports-park-carson-7-3-2021-3631475

More L.A.

Closer to the heart of Los Angeles another large boxing card takes place in one week at the Banc of California Stadium on Friday, July 9.

Golden Boy Promotions, based in downtown Los Angeles, finally brings a show in walking distance of its offices when Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez meets Sullivan Barrera in a light heavyweight clash. DAZN will stream most of the card. The first half will include six televised fights including two female world title fights featuring Japan’s two premier world champions clashing with top American fighters. Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada meets WBO light flyweight titlist Tsunami Tenkai and Sulem Urbina fights WBA flyweight titlist Naoko Fujioka.

These two female battles should not be missed.

Others included on the Golden Boy card are Jojo Diaz meeting Javier Fortuna in a lightweight match. It was Fortuna who was scheduled to meet Ryan Garcia but now finds himself against former super featherweight world titlist Diaz who is moving up a weight division for this fight.

For tickets go to this link: https://www.ticketsonsale.com/tickets/golden-boy-boxing-series-zurdo-vs-barrera-banc-of-california-stadium-los-angeles-7-9-2021-3630643

Flyweight Contender

Southern California’s Ricardo Sandoval (19-1, 14 KOs) traveled to Bolton, England for a June 25 flyweight title elimination bout with Welsh fighter Jay Harris (18-2, 9 KOs) and won by knockout in the eighth round. Body shots were the method of destruction.

Sandoval fights out of Riverside, California and was recently seen on a Golden Boy Promotions fight card at Fantasy Springs Casino a year ago. He’s a slick fighting power-puncher who was able to stop Harris by knockout. Not even WBC champion Julio Cesar Martinez could stop Harris.

Tank

Last weekend Gervonta “Tank” Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) exhibited a few of the skills not always seen when he defeated Mario Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) for a version of the WBA super lightweight title in Atlanta. A large crowd of more than 15,000 witnessed the fight.

Though not very tall for 140-pounds, Davis showed that he’s more than just a puncher; he can also carry out a fight strategy and figure out how to neutralize a taller fighter with power. It was another side of Tank.

The fight between Tank and Barrios will be shown again on Saturday by Showtime along with the Chris Colbert versus Tug Nyambayar super featherweight match.

Now it’s up to Davis and Mayweather Promotions to decide which direction to go. He’s a proven star and fan attraction and that means he can go where he wants to go. He has world titles in three weight divisions so his options are pretty limitless. Plus, he’s one of the most exciting fighters out there alongside Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Fights to Watch

Sat. Showtime 6 p.m. Chris Colbert (15-0) vs Tug Nyambayar (12-1); replay of Gervonta Davis (25-0) vs. Mario Barrios (26-1).

Check out more boxing news on video at the Boxing Channel

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