When it comes to talking trash, Chris Colbert is one of the best around. The Brooklyn native, for most of his career, has always backed up his brazen words but when he took on Hector Luis Garcia in 2022, he couldn’t.
Colbert (17-2, 6 KOs) is a loud personality. So, simply coming back against another 130-pound contender wouldn’t do enough for his ego. Instead, the 27-year-old decided to move up in weight and take on Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela.
After getting dropped in the opening round, Colbert made the necessary adjustments, leading to a close decision win. Valenzuela couldn’t believe his ears once the final verdict was announced. For months he poked Colbert, ripped him whenever a camera was around, and demanded a rematch. Eventually, Colbert acquiesced.
Unlike their first meeting, things didn’t go according to plan. From the opening bell, Colbert was dominated. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, Valenzuela violently ended the night of his man, brutally stopping him in the sixth round.
Watching Colbert fall flat on his face was an unshakeable feeling for Aureliano Sosa, Colbert’s trainer. Although his defeat is still fresh, Sosa believes that Colbert’s time at 135 pounds is officially about to be truncated.
“I just think 135 might be just a little too big for Chris,” admitted Sosa to BoxingScene.com during a recent interview. “We were talking about it. Maybe we’re going to be dropping to 130. I think 30 is the weight we’re gonna be aiming for.”
Returning to his more natural weight class would be showing discernment according to Sosa, but Colbert might have other ideas.
Once he regained consciousness, Colbert inquired about a rematch, something Valenzuela openly turned down. Even if Valenzuela had a change of heart, Sosa would have his reservations.
First things first, Colbert has to rebuild. If he does that successfully, then a Valenzuela trifecta makes more sense.
“Hopefully we’ll get two fights and then maybe we can run it back again but for now, I don’t want Rayo right now.”