OLEKSANDR GVOZDYK was sniffing around for a potential clash with Khalil Coe, only to discover that fellow light-heavyweight veteran Jesse Hart had beaten him to the punch.
According to the Ukrainian, the two Americans have agreed terms and, while an official announcement is yet to emerge, are likely to square off later this year.
Coe, 10-1-1 (8 KOs), comes off a strong performance against Manuel Gallegos, punishing the typically sturdy Mexican with a sixth-round stoppage victory in May.
Before that, though, a far less assertive effort saw ‘Big Steppa’ drop the ball against Gallegos and, in doing so, find himself on the receiving end of a ninth-round finish.
But now, after avenging his only professional defeat, the 29-year-old simply has no time to waste as he looks to reach the upper echelons of his division.
Standing in his way of a future stab at world honours, it seems, is Hart, 31-3 (25 KOs), a former two-time world title challenger whose only blemishes have arrived against Gilberto Ramirez and Joe Smith Jr.
His two losses to Ramirez came at 168lbs, where ‘Hard Work’ established himself as a formidable contender, before he then dropped a razor-thin split decision against Smith up at light-heavyweight.
And while last meaningful win – a points victory over Sullivan Barrera – arrived in 2019, it must be said that the 36-year-old nonetheless remains a serviceable customer at 175lbs.
In fact, former world champion Gvozdyk, 21-2 (17 KOs), even favours Hart to stop Coe in his tracks, while the 38-year-old, after having the fight pinched from his grasp, has now been forced to consider alternative options.
“My manager told me about [a possible fight with Coe] a week ago,” Gvozdyk told Boxing News. “I said yes, of course, but yesterday [Tuesday], he called me and said that they [Team Coe] decided to go with Jesse Hart.
“It’s a big test for Coe, and I’m not so sure he’s going to pass it. Good fight, though.”
