In a WBA super featherweight eliminator, unbeaten WBA #5 featherweight Hector Garcia (15-0, 10 KOs) moved up a division on two-and-a-half weeks’ notice and dominated WBA #1 rated Chris “Primetime” Colbert (16-1, 6 KOs) over twelve rounds on Saturday night from The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Garcia was a replacement for WBA champion Roger Gutierrez, who contracted COVID, but he didn’t look like a sub. He beat Colbert to the punch from the get-go. Garcia dropped Colbert in round seven and punished him for the rest of the fight. Scores were 118-109, 118-109, 119-108.
“In the ninth and 10th rounds I hit him so hard,” said Garcia. “I knew I had him. I knew he wasn’t going to be able to box anymore. I want to fight Gutierrez for the world championship I worked too hard to get into this position today.”
Colbert stated that he wants to get a rematch. “Congratulations to Hector and his team. They deserved this win tonight. I wasn’t feeling myself. At the end the day, I’m still ‘Primetime’ on SHOWTIME.”
On a weekend of boxing upsets, this fight was the biggest with Colbert going down in flames as a 33:1 favorite.
Nothing more pleasurable in the sport of boxing than to see a cocky fighter get their ass kicked!
Yes!
I was loving it
I didn’t think he was a good boxer anyway he’s average
No power no chin and no heart
Colbert got that stupid look knocked off his face tonight. He could have redeemed himself by actually fighting Garcia especially in the last two rounds but just ran. Even Colbert’s corner told him to do SOMETHING since he “talked a lot of shit” but wasn’t backing it up in the ring. It’s awesome when such an underdog proves his mettle…
And even more so, when he gets the decision.
In ways this fight reminded me some of Lopez- Kambosis. I could see the talent in Colbert but he was fighting like a guy who just thought he could get the KO whenever he wanted to and therefore was not following a proper game plan. By the time he realized he was on the wrong track he was not mentally or physically prepared to adjust. I believe to be a successful fighter you have to have extreme confidence but you also have to have a healthy respect for your opponent and realize he or she may not follow the script hence you need a game plan and several back up plans. Colbert seemed to be fighting like he was waiting for the spectacular KO to just happen instead of focusing on winning and letting the KO opportunity come. Maybe it would have and maybe it would not have but at least he would be giving himself the best chance of winning instead of fighting Garcia’s fight. Confidence is great…arrogance…can be ones downfall.
I always knew Colbert’s lack of power punching would catch up to him. Garcia had no fear/concerns of Colbert’s punching, so he kept constant pressure and solid combination punches on Colbert. I also did not like how Colbert finished the fight.
Colbert ate humble pie tonight, and we will see how he bounces back from the loss. Meanwhile, might as well send Garcia in there vs. Gutierrez because I highly doubt if Colbert gets a rematch against Garcia. Let’s now see how previously relatively unknown Garcia handles the spotlight.
Champions or top class fighters don’t finish fights like that even when they are losing.
Haha. I thought Colbert was skilled but lacked power, just an overrated wombat
I think the outfit he was wearing gets “outfit of the year” award.
It was interesting for sure scoob. I’ll say this for Colbert , he didn’t run out of the ring afterwards and got in front of the camera and didn’t try to make any excuses about his effort.
THAT …I did enjoy !!
The biggest upset this week is Taylor vs Catterall. The decision “upsets” the viewing public
Agree entirely with the thoughts here. The only thing I will say however is that at least Colbert accepted that he lost to the better man on the night, unlike the deluded Josh Taylor, who claimed he won his fight when being interviewed post fight against the rising tide of questions about the decision. Would have been better for him to say something like “… I dunno, I had trouble making weight, wasn’t my best performance, and I guess I got lucky with the decision, but that’s the fight game…”.
Another inflated boxer going up in smoke.
This is definitely a night /day of upsets in boxing history. The prior champions took their opponents lightly so they ended with their asses whooped up. Lesson: Train like there’s no tomorrow champs!
Salas boxing
Billy Conn said “a third rater in shape will beat a first rater out of shape.” Not lessening Garcia’s prowess, but ‘first rater’ can be used for the [ caliber and expectations of Colbert ]. Whom, in this case, was psychologically out of shape. These 12Round era fighters are highly over—appraised by the larger percentile of sport scribes. Many of whom are rushing ink to paper. Whenever a microphone was at Colbert’s mouth, he gave minimal respect to Garcia. Wherein, one can see the determined gaze Garcia exhibited and the way he carried himself [ psychologically ] Good for him.
Funny how the next day everyone turns into Teddy Atlas!
Everybody is suddenly a boxing guru. Most of whom NEVER even stepped near a ring. Men who obviously never punched, or been punched in the face before.
You win some, you lose some! ITS BOXING! There’s no telling what Lil b-hop was going through this camp, it obviously wasn’t his night, but hey!
Kudos to Garcia for his Rocky moment. One bad night shouldn’t define a career though! Shit happens!
Are you 100% performing at your job everyday? OFCOURSE NOT, We’re human beings, ups and downs is what life is about!
His bounce back will tell us who he really is! Give him a chance for redemption.
And I guarantee all these couch potatoes and weekend warriors on here wouldn’t say anything to a fighters face!
IT LOOKS WAYYYYYY EASIER FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME, GUYS!!!!!! TRUST ME!!!!!!!!
We’re just going by what Colbert said him and his big mouth he said he’s this he’s that he’s going to ko Garcia he barely won one round that’s not he had a bad night he’s over rated no chin no heart all mouth
I may not have been a boxer, but have been in sports competition, and I showed more heart than colbert did last night in extreme conditions.
Last minute replacement from a lower weight division!
Everyone here in Dominican Republic knew Colbert was in a for a big surprise because Garcia was a standout amateur and former Olympian, last but not least mechanically sound plus heavy handed.
Garcia – Gutierrez is going to be a REALLY fun fight. They’re both going to come forward and try to kill each other.
It’s always interesting to see the flashy cocky boxer face adversity for the first time and how they will respond. Colbert failed. You either have the dog in you or you don’t. Slightly reminded me of Mayorga-Forrest.
I didn’t dislike Colbert but I didn’t understand the hype train. Moron Ranallo calling him over and over one of the hottest prospects was puzzling. It’s real tough when you got feathers in your fists to excel long term at the top of the game. Colbert had no response to relentless pressure. Started to hold and run when he got roughed up. Colbert will get murdered when he moves up in weight
I love a big upset in boxing, especially from last minute subs. I was never a believer that fights are fixed in that fighters are paid or threatened to take a dive, but I do believe that fights are fixed in that marquis fighters are given opponents they know they can beat and all advantages are swung in their favor. Colbert was hyped up a bit as a future star in boxing, but I wouldn’t exactly call him a boxing super star. I saw him in a boxing documentary a few years back when he was just turning pro. They were trying to groom him for stardom then, but you didn’t get the feeling he had the heart or the discipline to deliver. Not saying that’s why he lost last night, but that’s the feeling I got from him in the movie, which in his defense, was filmed about 5 years ago.
Rainbow Sherbet Colbert was a COVID era fighter with no stiff competition. That first fight was what I’ve been missing in boxing for a long time. .
I think Colbert really damaged his young career with that performance. Fans aren’t going to buy a ticket to watch him run away and not fight, and promoters know that fans won’t pay to watch him run away and refuse to fight. Managers don’t want to manage a fighter that will just stop fighting or even trying, and trainers don’t want to waste their time training a fair weather fighter with no heart.
Another loudmouth bites the dust.