Chris “B-Hop” Colbert was so confident he would win his first professional fight he was more concerned with just living up to his own hype — and his nickname.
“I was more nervous to look bad,” Colbert said. “I talk a lot, so I had to back it up.”
The 18-year-old Flatbush-native, who began boxing at the age of 13, earned the nickname B-Hop three years ago because of his friendship with legendary fighter Bernard Hopkins. He also carried himself with the same showboating swagger as the future Hall of Famer. At the weigh-in, Colbert — who had “B-Hop” shaved in the back of his head — told opponent Marquis Pierce he was going to “whoop” him.
B-Hop delivered on his promise.
Colbert, still in high school, knocked down the 25-year-old Pierce late in the first round with straight right to the temple. He landed a similar punch in the second, sending Pierce flying into the ropes. The referee immediately stopped the fight at 1:31 of the second round of the featherweight bout to award Colbert a memorable victory Friday night in Brooklyn. The bout was part of the Premier Boxing Champions undercard headlined by the Amir Khan-Chris Algieri fight.
“Not a lot of people get to make their pro debut in their hometown,” Colbert said.
B-Hop isn’t known for his punching power, but he certainly showcased his fist-force for the Brooklyn fans. Colbert, who is signed with top manager Al Haymon, described himself as an accurate puncher. Once he landed the big right in the first round he knew it would be there again when he needed it.
“I faked to the body and came up top with the right hand,” Colbert said. “I knew it was going to land because he kept ducking.”
Boxing has provided an escape from a tough neighborhood and family life for Colbert. Neither of his parents was on hand to see him compete. Colbert’s coach Aureliano Sosa, who has known him since he was 11, has become a father figure to him and handles the task of keeping him in line.
“Most of the time he stays over my house, and we keep him out of trouble,” Sosa said.
Despite this being his first pro fight, Colbert was already a veteran in the ring. He’s had more than 50 amateur fights and has won multiple titles, including the Daily News Golden Gloves last year, USA Nationals, and Silver Glove nationals, among others. He was the No. 3-ranked fighter nationally at 114 pounds as an amateur, and No. 1 at 123. Colbert decided to by pass on a chance to try to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
“He’s a camera kid,” Sosa said. “He was ready for the hype.”
The day didn’t start as well as it ended for Colbert. He came to the area without his custom-made zebra boxing shorts. He had a spare, but was on his way to the ring when the originals were run over from near Junior’s Restaurant to Barclays Center.
“I was ready, but if I had to go out there and fight in my drawers I would have did it,” Colbert said.
It further insured Colbert looked good while defeating Pierce.
“I just knew today was going to be a special day,” Colbert said. “I just had to come here and show up, and do what I do best — and that’s fight.”
