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Undefeated interim WBA Super Featherweight champion Chris “Primetime†Colbert and hard-hitting contender Tugstsogt “King Tug†Nyambayar met in the final press conference Thursday before meeting in the action’s main event. live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, July 3 at a Premier Boxing Champions Event at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
(Photo credit: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME)
Also on Thursday’s press conference were undefeated rising star Michel Rivera and lightweight contender Jon Fernández, who will face off in the main co-event of the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING TV show which starts at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
To open the broadcast, SHOWTIME will air a special replay of Saturday night’s thrilling pay-per-view main event fight between Gervonta Davis and Mario Barrios.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased on AXS.com.
Here’s what the fighters had to say on Thursday:
CHRIS COLBERT
“I was going to hit [Yuriorkis] Gamboa came out cold, and now ‘King Tug’ has to take the knockout.
“My hard work is finally paying off. All I have to do is stay focused, dedicated and disciplined, and I’ll be the face of boxing in a few years.
“This place is really famous for wars. Come Saturday night, I will definitely bring the heat.
“I’m ready for this fight. Nyambayar knows he’s going to be in trouble on Saturday. No one there can fight with me on a week and a half’s notice and not be in trouble.
“Me and Michel Rivera did a lot of laps together during training in Miami. We’ve done a great job all camp and I’m just ready and excited to step into the ring.
“I knocked out everyone they put in front of me. They still don’t give me the respect I deserve. I just have to keep doing my thing on Saturday night and embarrass her.
“I can’t tell you if he’s still my toughest opponent. I know he doesn’t beat me, and that’s a promise. There is no way a 126 pounds would go up in weight and beat me.
“He’s a fighter with only one loss, he can come back. But that won’t matter on Saturday night. He’s supposed to be self-confident. He can’t say he’s going to wash on Saturday, but that’s what’s going to happen.
“I appreciate ‘Tug’ for taking the fight, but on Saturday night I’m going to go in and dominate him and beat him. It’s a Nissan against a Lamborghini, and I’m the Lambo.
“I agree that ‘King Tug’ might be a better opposition than Yuriorkis Gamboa would have been. But no matter if it was Gamboa, ‘King Tug’ or Arnold Schwarzenegger with me, it was always going to be the same result on Saturday night.
“My hair is orange this week as a sign of dedication to the cause of the fight against multiple sclerosis. A friend of mine, Dave, back in New Jersey has it and he told me his story about how he was paralyzed as a child and also had MS.
Then I saw him on the Stairmaster in the gym the next day for about an hour. I saw this and realized that there was no excuse I could find not to be in the gym. I do the different hair colors to make people feel special. I want them to know that I am fighting for them.
“No one in the 130-pound division can beat me. I will continue to prove it every time I step in the ring. I will deliver a dominant performance. Don’t be surprised when I stop him.
“I don’t think it’s over 10 laps. I will continue to prove that I have power on Saturday night. I don’t discredit his skills, but I’m just different.
TUGSTSOGT NYAMBAYAR
“I’m really excited for this fight. This is my first fight at 130 pounds and I want to show what I can do. I am ready for this opportunity.
“Just know this, we are here to win. My team is here to win. I’m ready for Chris Colbert. That’s it.
“I don’t care if I fight on short notice with a heavier weight. I believe in myself. I can fight at 122, I can fight at 126, and I can fight at 130.
“Two weeks’ notice is enough for me. If I didn’t take the fight, Colbert wouldn’t have a fight. So he should be grateful. Let’s see what’s going on. I’m going to bang her ass.
“I believe in my speed and I believe in my power. I believe in myself. I just want to test myself. It’s a good opportunity against a good fighter.
“I don’t think he can stop me. Look at me on Saturday night. I’m ready.
“I don’t care what he says. I’m just focused on the sight. I really believe in myself and that I will hurt him on Saturday night.
“Colbert has a similar speed to Gary Russell Jr. so it won’t be something I’ve never seen before. Russell’s combat adjustments have been made in the gym over time.
“I’m very happy to fight at Dignity Health Sports Park because Los Angeles is my second home. It’s very exciting to fight here and with a crowd there watching. Mongolian supporters will show up on Saturday.
MICHEL RIVERA
“I had a good camp and I have a good team, led by Herman Caicedo who is my coach with Jukka Toivola.
I know this is a good opportunity and I have worked so hard for this fight. I’m so excited for July 3rd and know this is my chance to show I’m awesome and shine.
“Jon Fernandez is a good boxer and he’s a good puncher. I don’t know much about him, but I do know he’s Spanish and he’s tall. He hits hard but I’m in the kind of condition to be big in this fight.
“I’m sure on July 3 when people watch the fight, they’ll see who the better boxer is. I’m ready for everything.
If he wants to fight instead of boxing, I will fight too. I have the skills. I think I’m faster than him. I have no issues with its size.
You can see in my past fights where I fought at 144, and I looked good with the big boxers too. I have no problem with that. Everyone will have to tune in on July 3 on SHOWTIME, and they’ll see Michel Rivera beat Jon Fernandez.
“I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I’m a Dominican, and in the Dominican Republic you don’t have a lot of opportunities.
I came here and made a name for myself. Everyone will know I’m ready to fight the biggest names at 135 – the best boxers. I have the skills and the talent. I am young and I am pretty too.
“It’s good that he looks confident. I am confident too. It is a great war. He has a lot of knockouts, but they weren’t against any boxer like me. I am concentrated. Like I said, he’s a good boxer, but I’m better. I trust my talent and I trust my condition.
“My point of view remains the same after this press conference. Fernandez is a proud fighter and I expect nothing less than what he said.
I am also a proud fighter and I am convinced that I am better than him. I consider myself better prepared and ready to be considered one of the best boxers in the 135-pound division.
“Training with Chris Colbert has been a great experience and the training sessions have been great. He made me better, just like I made him better. He’s a great person.
My fellow Dominican fighter Jeison Rosario wished me good luck and told me that he knew that I would one day be the world champion and that he would support me and watch the fight from the Dominican Republic.
“Of course I think I’m the next world champion from the Dominican Republic. I can beat all the top boxers, the top five, in the 135-pound division.
I want to make a name for myself at 135 because I know it’s a strong division now. I want everyone to know me at this weight.
“I promise a good fight. Everyone will see the next superstar in the ring on July 3rd. “
JON FERNANDEZ
“I am very excited to be here for this fight. The training camps in Madrid and Mexico have been great. We had excellent preparation.
I face a great opponent in Michel Rivera, but this is the door that I have to open to be in the big league of boxing. I don’t intend to miss this chance.
“I’m glad he’s confident in his ability, but I think it’s a 50-50 game. It’s going to be a big fight and we’re definitely on the same level.
There is no difference in skill levels. I’m going to use my size and show off my boxing skills on Saturday night.
“Rivera is a very good boxer and has a lot of skills, but I believe I have the same skills and more power. If I get the opening I can knock Rivera out.
“I promise we’ll put on a great show and deliver fireworks in the ring. My hand will rise when the fight is over.
“There is nothing like fighting in Los Angeles. I’ve been here before, but nothing compares to being in the big show.
“Everyone in Spain supports me. My city of Bilbao sent me all their love and they believe in me 100%. Even some famous soccer players contacted me. Athletic Bilbao players and (former Spain national team striker) Fernando Torres.
“I would like to win to open the door for other Spanish boxers who come behind me and savor this opportunity – like my brother Eker, who is about to make his professional debut. I want to make him proud and put Spain on the card with regard to boxing.
“If I win, it’s not just because of my power. It’s going to be a close fight, but I’ll give everything I have to come out with the win.
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