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Unbeatens Chris Colbert & Hector Luis Garcia Headline
Feb. 26 On Showtime In Las Vegas
Undefeated rising star Chris “Primetime” Colbert will now
square off against unbeaten Dominican Olympian Hector Luis
Garcia in a 12-round WBA Super Featherweight World Title
Eliminator headlining live on SHOWTIME Saturday, February 26
in a Premier Boxing Champions event from The Chelsea inside
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The southpaw Garcia replaces WBA Super Featherweight World
Champion Roger Gutierrez, who was forced to withdraw after a
positive COVID-19 test.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast kicks off at 10
p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and will feature another unbeaten young
phenom in the co-main event. Gary Antuanne Russell, a 2016
U.S. Olympian, faces former world champion Viktor Postol in
a 10-round super lightweight bout, while IBF Junior
Bantamweight World Champion Jerwin Ancajas defends his title
against unbeaten Argentine Fernando Martinez in the
televised opener of the loaded tripleheader.
Representing his native Brooklyn, N.Y., Colbert (16-0, 6
KOs) has quickly shot up the 130-pound rankings, taking on
high-level competition in his first 16 pro fights. Already
established as a fighter with dazzling boxing skills,
Colbert showcased his ability to fight toe-to-toe with an
11th-round stoppage of Jaime Arboleda in December 2020
before most recently besting Tugstsogt Nyambayar in July
2021. The 25-year-old turned pro in 2015 and defeated three
unbeaten fighters in his first eight contests. Prior to the
Arboleda fight, Colbert scored a highlight-reel first-round
knockout against Miguel Beltran Jr. in September 2019 and a
dominant 12-round decision victory over former champion
Jezzreel Corrales in January 2020.
Tall and rangy with good power in his left hand and a
dedicated body attack, the 30-year-old Garcia (14-0, 10 KOs)
scored the most impressive victory of his career in his last
fight, when he defeated Isaac Avelar by unanimous decision
in December 2021. The 5-9 Garcia, who sparred with Devin
Haney and Rolly Romero for the Avelar win, represented his
native San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, in the
2016 Olympics before turning pro in December that year.
Garcia is trained by the highly respected Ismael Salas, who
has guided a long list of standouts, including Yordenis Ugás,
Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Nonito Donaire, and
Jorge Linares. Garcia will be fighting for just the third
time in the U.S. on February 26, having defeated Avelar in
Minneapolis. He was zeroing in on facing a top contender in
2022. Now he will get his chance.
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