Chris Colbert plans to become world champion by cutting down to 130 pounds.
The 28-year-old Brooklyn native is scheduled to have his first fight on ProBox TV against 24-year-old Omar Salcido Gamez from Mexico. in the lightweight bout, 10 months after losing to Jose Valenzuela in the 6th round. Valenzuela’s defeat came in a rematch of his earlier win over a unanimous decision. 10 rounds
Colbert came close to fighting for the WBA junior lightweight title against then-champion Roger Gutierrez in February 2022, but the title holder withdrew two weeks before fight night due to a positive test for COVID. -19 Gutierrez was replaced by Hector Luis Garcia, the underdog in the bout who became the WBA 130-pound title eliminator.
with dissatisfaction Garcia defeats Colbert. and won a 12-round unanimous decision with scores of 119-108, 118-109, and 118-109.
Ahead of his fight with Gamez (19-1, 13 KOs), Colbert 17-2, (6 KOs) said he is ready to prove his worth in his return to the ring.
“I should be world champion if I could pay the guy I was supposed to fight and then substitute at the last minute. But it’s life,” Colbert told BoxingScene.
“Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes in life They say when you want something God may not give you Because you may not know how to handle it when He gives it to you. He will give it to you when he is ready. And this is only a part.
“I’m not complaining. I will reduce my weight to 130 to challenge for honors there.”
Colbert spent most of his career as a junior lightweight. His only lightweight fight came in a doubleheader against Jose Valenzuela on October 9. He was billed to face Gamez at 135 pounds, but Colbert believed that the 130-pound division remains his surest bet to achieve his world title dream.
“I was out of the ring for too long. And I can’t jump back down to 130 a little bit,” he said. “I will fight at 135 on October 9th, but will definitely move down.”
Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist specializing in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column called “From The Ringside” in his home country of Ghana for many years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and by email at bernardneequaye@gmail.com–
