The ultra-talented super featherweight takes on a fellow unbeaten in Hector Garcia atop a stacked PBC on SHOWTIME triple-header Saturday night.
On Saturday, February 26, live on SHOWTIME from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, one of boxing’s most exciting young talents, Chris “Primetime” Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) meets unbeaten Dominican Olympian Hector Garcia (14-0, 10 KOs) in a 12-round WBA super featherweight world title eliminator atop a high-octane Premier Boxing Champions tripleheader.
Garcia is a late replacement for WBA super featherweight world champion Roger Gutierrez, who was forced to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) will feature undefeated 2016 US Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell taking a huge step up in class against former world champion Viktor Postol in a 10-round super lightweight bout. Opening the show, IBF Super Flyweight World Champion Jerwin Ancajas defends his title against unbeaten Argentine Fernando Martinez.
Here's a look at the action this Saturday:
Chris Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) vs. Hector Luis Garcia (14-0, 10 KOs)
Trainer Joe Goossen once referred to “Primetime” Colbert as the “best prospect on the planet” and it’s hard to find fault with that assessment.
A natural righty who can box equally well from southpaw and orthodox stances, the mega-confident 25-year-old is blessed with blinding speed and supreme reflexes. He’s also a patient fighter with ring instincts well beyond his years. Colbert’s complete package has often been referred to as “Mayweather-esque” and, while he has a long way to go before Mayweather-level achievement, the eye test suggests that the Brooklynite, with dominant high-water mark victories over Miguel Beltran, Jezzrel Corrales, Jaime Arboleda, and Tugstsogt Nyambayar, is well on his way to elite-class status.
Now just one fight away from a world title shot, Colbert aims to make a major statement.
Late replacement Garcia, from San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic, looks to catch Colbert off guard and, possibly, underestimating the task at hand.
Tall and rangy with a relaxed style and a stiff jab, the southpaw presents a different style and mindset than original opponent, Roger Gutierrez. A 2016 Olympian representing his home country, Garcia is trained by renowned Cuban trainer Ismael Salas, who’s had a hand in the development of names such as Yordenis Ugás, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Danny Green, Nonito Donaire, and Jorge Linares.
In his last bout, Garcia scored an impressive unanimous decision victory over Mexico’s Isaac Avelar.
Going on raw talent and general body of work, Colbert comes into Saturday’s contest a huge favorite. But, in boxing’s theater of the unexpected, a heavy favorite being upset by a late replacement and/or caught cold looking to bigger things is hardly unheard of.
Garcia is well-trained, disciplined, and in possession of an all-around sound ring IQ. He’ll look to establish distance with his jab and time the speedy favorite as he comes in. A strong left hand and tenacious body work could be his greatest assets in this bout.
Colbert, however, is so talented and so naturally adept at everything. Beating him will be a Herculean task for even the best of the best. If he’s not caught looking past Saturday’s challenge, this could be an explosive showcase for one of boxing’s next great ones.
“ He’s going to learn firsthand how dangerous I am. ” Undefeated Super Featherweight Contender - Chris Colbert
In Colbert’s Own Words
“I don’t really know anything about Garcia. I know he’s got two arms and two legs, and beyond that I expect him to bring his A-game, because he has to against me. There’s no way that I’m letting him come in as a late replacement and beat me. He’s going to learn firsthand how dangerous I am. I’m not worried about anything he brings to the ring. I just have a job to do and I’m going to do it on February 26.”
In Garcia’s Own Words
“I don’t consider Chris Colbert particularly dangerous. I’ve watched him fight before and I know that I do have to be agile, since he is very fast. I have been sparring with many training partners that have styles similar to his. I’m very thankful to my whole team for giving me this opportunity. It’s time to show the world that there was a Dominican fighter hidden in the shadows and he’s ready to pounce on this chance.”
Gary Antuanne Russell (14-0, 14 KOs) vs. Viktor Postol (31-3, 12 KOs)
Russell, the 25-year-old younger brother of former WBC featherweight champ Gary Russell Jr., has yet to see an opponent make it to the seventh round. Quick, explosive, and offense-minded, the 2016 US Olympian has become one of boxing’s most compelling young contenders. In his most recent bout, the southpaw from Capitol Heights, MD looked especially sharp in stopping the tough-as-nails Jovanie Santiago in six rounds. He’ll be taking a huge step up in class this Saturday against former WBC super lightweight world champion, Viktor Postol.
“The Iceman” Postol has been in the ring with some major players, such as Terence Crawford, Josh Taylor, Jose Ramirez, and Lucas Matthysse—and has more than his fair share of high-end victories. The tall, lanky 38-year-old Ukraine native is jab-oriented and works well from the outside but can cause some damage when he drops the straight right hand behind his stiff jab. In his most recent bout, he lost a close majority decision to then two-belt super lightweight champ Jose Ramirez.
Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) vs. Fernando Martinez (13-0, 8 KOs)
The well-traveled 30-year-old Ancajas from Panabo City in the Philippines has fought in seven different countries over the course of his thirteen-year pro career. He’s also flown under the radar as one of boxing’s longest-reigning world champs, with nine defenses of the IBF super flyweight world title he took from McJoe Arroyo in 2016. Discovered at the age of fifteen by Manny Pacquiao, the athletic and explosive “Pretty Boy” became the first world champion under Pacquiao’s MP Promotions banner.
The undefeated 30-year-old Martinez, who is promoted and mentored by countryman and former two-division world champ Marcos Maidana, is a resident of Buenos Aires, Argentina and holds a high-water mark TKO victory in South Africa over home country favorite Athenkosi Dumezweni in 2019. In his most recent bout, this past August, he stopped Gonzalo Duran in four rounds.
For a closer look at Colbert vs Garcia, check out our fight night page.
