UNBEATEN INTERIM WBA SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION CHRIS COLBERT BATTLES HARD-HITTING JAIME ARBOLEDA LIVE ON SHOWTIME

Two of the top fighters in the
130-pound division will meet when unbeaten interim WBA Super Featherweight
Champion *Chris “Primetime” Colbert *faces the hard-hitting *Jaime Arboleda
*in the main event of *SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION* *Saturday,
December 12 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT live on SHOWTIME* from Mohegan Sun Arena
in Uncasville, Conn., in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

The tripleheader, originally scheduled for November 28, will see
middleweight contenders *Matt Korobov *and *Ronald Ellis *battle in the
10-round co-main event and rising super lightweight phenom *Richardson
Hitchins *taking on the toughest test of his young career as he faces
former world champion *Argenis Mendez *in a 10-round telecast opener. The
event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing. Hitchins vs. Mendez
is co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions.

Nordine Oubaali vs. Nonito Donaire was originally scheduled to take place
on December 12 but was postponed after Oubaali tested positive for COVID-19.

“This main event on December 12 will pit two of the 130-pound division’s
most exciting rising talents against each other as the sublimely skilled
Chris Colbert faces the powerful Jaime Arboleda in a can’t-miss showdown,”
said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “The co-main event will see
two middleweight contenders in Matt Korobov and Ronald Ellis looking to
show that they’re among the division’s elite, while the SHOWTIME opener
features the exciting prospect Richardson Hitchins against the always tough
Argenis Mendez in a big step up fight. These are three evenly-matched bouts
that should make for nonstop drama on fight night.”

Representing his native Brooklyn, N.Y., Colbert (14-0, 5 KOs) has quickly
shot up the 130-pound rankings, taking on high-level competition in his
first 14 pro fights. The 24-year-old beat then-undefeated fighters Austin
Dulay, Titus Williams and Antonio Dubose, all in his first eight fights as
a professional. In 2019, Colbert added four more victories to his tally,
including an explosive first-round knockout of veteran Miguel Beltran Jr.
Most recently, Colbert won his interim title by dropping former super
featherweight champion Jezreel Corrales on his way to a unanimous decision
in their January 2020 clash.

“I’m super excited to be making my big stage debut in the main event,” said
Colbert. “It’s been a long camp, but training is going great. I’m looking
to put on a dominant performance, and I’m looking for the knockout if it’s
there. If I can get it, that would be splendid. I know Jaime is going to
come to fight. He wants the belt as bad as I want to keep the belt. It’s
all going to come down to stamina, ring IQ and who has the greater will to
win. I feel like I’m the guy for the job. There’s no way in hell I’m giving
up my belt in my first defense.”

The 26-year-old Arboleda (16-1, 13 KOs) has amassed an impressive six-fight
winning streak heading into the matchup against Colbert, with five of those
victories coming inside of the distance. Born in Curundu, Panama, and now
fighting out Miami, Fla. Arboleda has fought professionally since 2014 and
scored knockouts over two then-undefeated opponents in 2019, Victor
Betancourt and Jose Saant. In his last fight, Arboleda, who is ranked
fourth in the 130-pound division by the WBA, bested former world title
contender Jayson Velez by unanimous decision to win his first 12-round
fight this February on SHOWTIME.

“Every boxer’s dream is to fight for a title and be victorious without
leaving any doubt,” said Arboleda. “That is my plan for December 12. I’m
having the best preparation of my entire career. I feel great, strong and
fast like never before. I’m sure it will be a very exciting fight from the
very first round.”

Korobov (28-3-1, 14 KOs) returns to action after losing his December 2019
clash against Chris Eubank Jr. when he suffered a shoulder injury that
forced the fight to end in the second round. Korobov, who notched 300 wins
as a decorated amateur, came into that fight off of a majority draw against
Immanuwel Aleem, after serving notice to the middleweight division that he
would be a threat when he lost a hard-fought decision to undefeated
middleweight champion Jermall Charlo in December. Born in Orotukan, Russia,
and now living in St. Petersburg, Fla, Korobov was a late replacement and
gave Charlo a tougher fight than many experts expected. Korobov had been
riding a four-fight win streak before the Charlo fight, following his first
professional defeat against Andy Lee in a 2014 middleweight title fight.

“I am excited to be back in a PBC event on SHOWTIME December 12,” said
Korobov. “I have a difficult opponent, but I expect to win and prove that I
am back and even better prepared. I must win against Ellis in order to get
Jermall Charlo back in the ring. Of course, I believe I beat Charlo, but
that is the past. Ellis is in my future, and I am coming to show I am still
one of the best middleweights in the world.”

The 31-year-old Ellis (17-1-2, 11 KOs) will look to build off of his last
outing, which saw him edge fellow contender Immanuwel Aleem by majority
decision in December 2019. For Ellis, that fight got him back in the win
column after his first career defeat, a majority decision against DeAndre
Ware in March 2019. The Lynn, Mass.-native is the older brother of
welterweight Rashidi Ellis, and had an impressive amateur career including
a 2010 National Golden Gloves championship capped off by a victory over
Terrell Gausha.

“It’s time for me to show out on December 12,” said Ellis. “Korobov had his
chance against the top middleweights, and now it’s my time to take
advantage of this opportunity and use a win over him to reach that level.
We’re working hard in San Diego sparring with Canelo Alvarez so that
everything is perfect and I’m at my best on fight night.”

A native of Brooklyn, Hitchins (11-0, 5 KOs) turned pro in 2017 after
representing Haiti at the 2016 Olympics. The 23-year-old has flashed
impressive skills as he’s amassed an unbeaten record in the pro ranks,
which is the product of an extensive amateur career. Hitchins scored four
victories in 2019, before debuting in 2020 with a decision victory over
Nicholas DeLomba. In his first two 10-round bouts as a professional, the
southpaw has scored decisive unanimous decisions.

“I don’t overlook any opponent, but I believe I have a better and sharper
skillset than Mendez,” said Hitchins. “I have all of the intangibles to
become a world champion. That’s often mistaken as being cocky, but it’s
really just me believing in myself more than anyone else. I will take this
fight seriously like I do any other fight and continue to do what I do in
order to get one step closer to that title shot. Being in camp with Floyd
Mayweather and Gervonta Davis, I’ve learned a lot. I feel like I have to
one-up the competition. They really pushed me to be a better fighter.”

A former super featherweight champion, Mendez (25-5-3, 12 KOs) has a
reputation for providing stiff challenges to the sport’s best and has
proven to be a durable contender at 140-pounds. In 2019, Mendez fought to
back-to-back draws against super lightweight contenders, first against
Anthony Peterson in March and then against the unbeaten Juan Heraldez in
May. Born in San Juan de La Maguana, Dominican Republic, Mendez now fights
out of Yonkers, N.Y. and owns victories over Eddie Ramirez, Ivan Redkach
and former titlist Miguel Vazquez. He has also gone toe-to-toe with former
champions Rances Barthelemy and Robert Easter Jr.

“I’m facing a young prospect who’s hungry for success, but I’m hungrier
today than I’ve ever been in my career and I have the experience to go
along with it,” said Mendez. “I’m also extremely motivated for this fight,
which isn’t good news for Hitchins. When fight time comes on December 12,
you’ll witness an intelligent but more aggressive Argenis Mendez.”

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