Former featherweight world title challenger Tugstsogt ‘King Tug’ Nyambayar 12-1 (9) is ready to bring his rugged and hard-hitting style up to 130-pounds when he takes on Chris ‘Prime Time’ Colbert 15-0 (6) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old Mongolian who fights out of Los Angeles is a late replacement for Cuban veteran Yuriorkis Gamboa 30-4 (18) who was forced to withdraw from the fight after suffering a rib injury.
Nyambayar, who was last seen in action in September when he scored a hard-fought split decision victory over previously undefeated featherweight Cobia Breedy 15-1 (5) at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, says the late call up and the move up in weight are not a problem for him.
“I’m really excited for this fight. It’s my first fight at 130 pounds and I want to show what I can do. I’m ready for this opportunity,” Nyambayar said.
“Just know this, we are here to win. My team is here to win. I’m ready for Chris Colbert. That’s it.
“I don’t care that I’m fighting on short notice at a higher weight. I believe in myself. I can fight at 122, I can fight at 126 and I can fight at 130.
“Two weeks’ notice is enough for me. If I didn’t take the fight, Colbert wouldn’t have a fight. So he should be thankful. Let’s see what happens. I’m going to whoop his ass.
“I believe in my speed and I believe in my power. I believe in myself. I just want to test myself. This is a good opportunity versus a good fighter.”
“I don’t think that he can stop me. Watch me on Saturday night. I’m ready.
“I’m not worried about anything he says. I’m just focused on the sight. I really believe in myself and that I’m going to hurt him on Saturday night.
In his lone world title shot Nyambayar took WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr 31-1 (18) the distance at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania in February last year, even winning a handful of rounds against the slick southpaw.
The fight was scored 117-111, 116-112 and 118-110 for Russell, but Nyambayar was far from disgraced.
Nyambayar says that experience has put him in good stead to defeat rising star Colbert, 24, who hails from Brooklyn in New York.
“Colbert has similar speed compared to Gary Russell Jr, so it’s not going to be anything I haven’t seen before. The adjustments from the Russell fight have been made in the gym over time,” Nyambayar said.
“I’m very happy to be fighting at Dignity Health Sports Park because Los Angeles is my second home. It’s very exciting to be fighting here and with a crowd there watching. The Mongolian fans are going to show up on Saturday.”
