Photos: Chris Colbert Overcomes Big Scares, Edges Jose Valenzuela in Controversial Win

MGM Grand, Las Vegas – In crossroads fight at lightweight, with two boxers looking to bounce back from defeat, Chris Colbert (17-1, 6 KOs) went through fire to win a very unpopular ten round unanimous decision over Jose Valenzuela (12-2, 8 KOs). (photos by Ryan Hafey, Esther Lin)

All three judges scored the fight 95-94 for Colbert.

In the opening moments of the first round, Valenzuela decked Colbert with a massive left hand. Colbert beat the count, but a moment later Colbert was rocked again and seemed to be on unsteady legs. Every time Colbert began to get his legs back, he would get hurt by another power shot.

The second saw both come out jabbing. Colbert was landing the more accurate punches. Colbert was boxing well in the third, until he was once again tagged by a heavy left. Colbert weathered the storm and then went back to landing accurate punches in the fourth. 

Colbert boxing well to start of the fifth, but Valenzuela began to land heavier blows at the midway point – before Colbert went back to outboxing Valenzuela. In the sixth, Valenzuela once again rocked Colbert badly. Colbert’s left eye seemed to be hurt and he was being battered by heavy punches against the ropes.

After doing well with his boxing ability in the seventh, Colbert was once again rocked and hurt by big punches in the eight round. He once again weathered the storm, but took punishment. In the ninth, Colbert once again was boxing well and giving Valenzuela some fits. In the tenth and final round, the action was close with both having success. Colbert was boxing well – and then got rocked once again in the last ten seconds by Valenzuela.