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The Independence Day weekend will be a light one for boxing, but we get a potentially fun card on July 3rd highlighting the junior lightweight division. WBA interim champ Chris Colbert will face off against Tugstsogt Nyambayar in a bout that came together fairly last minute.
Colbert was scheduled to face one-time hot prospect Yuriorkis Gamboa, but rib injuries sidelined Gamboa a little over a week before the fight. Nyambayar was willing to take on the fight, even though it is both at the last minute and will involve a step up in weight class. The 12-1 Nyambayar lost a tough challenge for the WBC featherweight title in February 2020 and will now look to upset the 15-0 Colbert.
Coverage of the main card will start at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime and run until a little after midnight. The main event will get started some time in the 11 p.m. hour and will be preceded by at least two fights. More could be added, but for the time being, the undercard includes Michel Rivera vs. Jon Fernández in a 12-round WBA lightweight eliminator bout and Richardson Hitchins vs. Darwin Price in a 10-round junior welterweight bout.
The lightweight eliminator is an interesting one, featuring the unbeaten Rivera taking on one-loss Fernández. The winner would seem to be in the mix for a shot at one of “Interim” champ Rolando Romero, “World” champ Gervonta Davis, or “Super” champ Teofimo Lopez. Boxing sanctioning bodies are entirely unpredictable, but I imagine the winner of Rivera-Fernández would get a shot at Romero if he wins his July 17th bout against Austin Dulay.
Colbert vs. Nyambayar full card
- Main event: Chris Colbert vs. Tugstsogt Nyambayar, 12 rounds, for Colbert’s WBA interim junior lightweight title
- Michel Rivera vs. Jon Fernández, 12 rounds, WBA lightweight eliminator
- Richardson Hitchins vs. Darwin Price, 10 rounds, junior welterweights