Homeless New York Boxer Gets Title Shot

A rough life that began as one of ten children in the Flatbush neighborhood in Brooklyn, took some difficult twists and turns before being named ESPN's #2 ranked 130-pound boxer. Prior to his first scheduled scheduled world title challenge, New Yorker, Chris Colbert had a few other fights on his hands to get there.

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Colbert was quoted by nydailynews.com writer Tony Paige, “Three days before my first pro fight I’m in a homeless shelter, sleeping on a chair. I’m crying to myself, ‘Damn, how am I going to do this? How do they expect me to stay focused? But that just gave me the motivation. I gotta be that guy. I’ve got to show the world that I’m that guy.”

According to Paige's article, 3 days later Chris “Primetime” Colbert started his successful boxing career. He won his first pro fight with a second-round TKO over Marquis Pierce at the Barclays Center about 5.3 miles from Flatbush. That is pretty cool. So close to home but so far away from his beginnings.

“I lived in the shelter about a year,” Colbert said. “It ain’t about nothing. It comes with the territory of being poor sometimes.” Colbert lost for the first time in his professional career on Saturday night. His next shot at the title may have to wait but I doubt it will discourage the young boxer. He has faced a few bigger challenges in life.