LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT prospect Khalil Coe is set for a career-defining stretch in his next two fights.
After citing health issues in his ninth-round loss to Manuel Gallegos last November, Coe returned to Mexico in May and gained emphatic revenge, stopping Gallegos three rounds earlier. The victory served as a statement of intent from “Big Steppa,” who now steps up in class to face veteran Jesse Hart.
Coe vs. Hart will serve as chief support to Jaron Ennis vs. Uisma Lima on October 11 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Following his success in Mexico, New Jersey’s Coe, 10-1-1 (8 KOs), finds himself back in hostile territory when he faces Philadelphia native Hart, 31-3 (25 KOs). Coe’s promoter Eddie Hearn outlined his ambitions for the 28-year-old when speaking to Boxing News:
“We want to fight Jesse Hart and then we want to fight [Oleksandr] Gvozdyk and then we want to fight for a world title.
“We believe after that victory in Mexico, he can be a force in the division.”
Currently, Coe is not ranked in the top 15 by any of the four major sanctioning bodies. Hart, however, represents a significant step up, and with Oleksandr Gvozdyk sitting at number four in the WBC rankings, victory over Hart could open the door to Coe breaking into the world-title picture.
“This is a make-or-break fight for both of us,” Coe said of the Hart matchup. “I think I’m the best up and coming prospect in the world, and a win over Jesse cements that. That takes me to the next level and has me knocking on the door to big fights in the 175lb division.
“You don’t see guys at my level taking fights like this, but that’s just testament to the belief I have in myself. Come October 11, I’m planning on making a statement. I tip my hat off to Jesse for taking this fight, I respect him but come fight night this is going to be my moment. Big Steppa is coming. I gotta step on you bro.”
