January 11: Steven Nelson-Cem Kilic Set for Hart-Smith Jr. Co-Feature Live on ESPN
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 10 Dec 2019
Two-fight telecast to begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Dec. 9, 2019) — Steven “So Cold” Nelson and Cem “Champ” Kilic were set to tangle Saturday evening in a battle of unbeaten super middleweights on Terence Crawford’s undercard, but an unexpected injury changed their plans.
Nelson and Kilic will now fight in a 10-rounder for the vacant NABO title Saturday, Jan. 11 as the co-feature to the Jesse Hart-Joe Smith Jr. main event at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena (ESPN & streaming on the ESPN App (Spanish), 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT). The co-feature slot became available after Rob “Bravo” Brant, who was set to fight Habib “Wild Hurricane” Ahmed, suffered a torn biceps.
“This is one of those moments. When this opportunity presented itself, I knew I had to take it,” Nelson said. “I compare this to when Terence Crawford got the late call to fight Breidis Prescott on HBO. He took advantage of that opportunity, and I am going to take advantage of the ESPN spotlight.”
“While I’m disappointed not to fight on the Dec. 14 card, I am beyond excited to showcase my talent to an even bigger audience just four weeks later on ESPN,” Kilic said. “I have been working hard in Florida with Buddy McGirt so all sports fans can see the best Cem Kilic on fight night!”
Nelson (15-0, 12 KOs), from Omaha, Neb., is part of one of boxing’s great stables, the Brian “BoMac” McIntyre-trained crew that also includes Crawford and junior lightweight world champion Jamel Herring. A 2012 U.S. Olympic team alternate and a U.S. Army veteran, Nelson took up the sport in 2010. He won the first 14 bouts of his career as a light heavyweight before moving down to super middleweight. In his super middleweight debut, Sept. 1 in Omaha, Nelson blew away Derrick Findley in four rounds. Kilic (14-0, 9 KOs) is a Los Angeles-based native of Germany who has won four of his last five by stoppage, most recently stopping Martez McGregor June 15 on the Tyson Fury-Tom Schwarz undercard.
The winner of this battle of world-ranked 168-pounders will position himself for a shot at one of the world titles. Nelson and Kilic have to wait four more weeks for the fight of their lives.
For more information, visit: www.toprank.com, www.espn.com/boxing; Facebook: facebook.com/trboxing; Twitter: twitter.com/trboxing.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Star Boxing, tickets priced at $100, $60, $40 and $25 (not including applicable fees) are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting www.ticketmaster.com and www.hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 13 Mar 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Jonny Mansour Takes on William King as One Half of a Double Main Event at Frontwave Arena’s SD Fight Night: Family Business on Saturday, April 18, 2026
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Rising Contender Jalen “Skywalker” Walker Signs with Wise Owl Boxing
Fri, 13 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Unsung Heroes and the Value of Service
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 12 Mar 2026Ronald, eldest son of boxing legend Tommy Hearns, will be his guardian and conservator
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 12 Mar 2026Remembering Gilberto Mendoza in the 10th Anniversary of His Passing
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 12 Mar 2026Air Force, Elite teams in Best of the Best Karate tourney
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 12 Mar 2026Chavez brothers to return on April 25
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 12 Mar 2026ProBox & Teiken Announce Co-Promotional Deal with World-Ranked Bantamweight Contender Katsuma Akitsugi
Thu, 12 Mar 2026Team USA Earns Three More Wins on Day Four of World Boxing Futures Cup
Thu, 12 Mar 2026Casimero vs Nery for WBA Gold Super Bantamweight Title April 18 in Kyrgyzstan!
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 12 Mar 2026