The way Chris Colbert sees it, his last-minute challenger is presented with a golden opportunity.

The way Tugstsogt Nyambayar sees it, his accepting this fight on short notice is the reason why his unbeaten opponent will have the chance to produce fireworks this weekend rather than sit home and watch them on this 4th of July weekend.

“Just think, if I didn’t take this fight this weekend, you wouldn’t have a fight,” Nyambayar pointed out to Colbert of his willingness to replace an injured Yuriorkis Gamboa on just two weeks’ notice. “Be thankful I took this fight, bro.”

The reminder came during the final pre-fight press conference Thursday afternoon in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom in Los Angeles ahead of their WBA interim junior lightweight title fight this Saturday. The two will collide live on Showtime from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Brooklyn’s Colbert (15-0, 6KOs) was originally due to make the second defense of his interim title versus Gamboa, who withdrew in mid-June due to a rib injury. The search for a replacement was brief, as Mongolia’s Nyambayar (12-1, 9KOs)—a 2012 Olympic Silver medalist and former title challenger—immediately agreed to move up in weight and accept the challenge in order to salvage the show.

“Covid just happened. A lot of people’s bills is due, light bills and shit like that,” Colbert stated. “They need money. People need money because they haven’t fought in a long time.

“I understand why he took the fight. I’m thankful, though. I appreciate that you took the fight. I gotta get in that ass.”

Colbert has done just that to the majority of his in-ring opposition to date, including an eleventh-round stoppage of Jaime Arboleda last November. His upcoming challenger promises that he is here for more than just a paycheck.

“Let’s see, bro,” Nyambayar noted of Colbert’s guarantee of how things will play out on Saturday, before offering one of his own. “I’m gonna whoop your ass.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox