Khalil Coe suffers first defeat, loses 9th round TKO to Manuel Gallegos
Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
“The Big Steppa” just took a big step back in his career.
Khalil Coe of Jersey City, N.J. suffered a shocking defeat to Manuel Gallegos on Saturday, Nov. 9, losing by ninth round technical knockout at Wells Fargo Center.
Coe (9-1-1, 7 KOs) was dropped four times before the fight was stopped by referee Eric Dali just seven seconds into the ninth round, awarding Gallegos (21-2-1, 18 KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico the biggest win of his professional career.
Coe, 28, was in control of the fight early on, but was gradually worn down by the body punching of his Mexican opponent. The nonstop pressure of Gallegos began to take its toll by the fourth round, when an uppercut wobbled Coe and sent him reeling into the ropes. Coe was dropped in the following round by a left hook to the body as the larger, better conditioned fighter continued to apply the pressure.
Coe, who had been one of Matchroom Boxing’s top prospects in the United States, didn’t go down without a fight, landing several hard counter punches against the relentless Gallegos, but it was Gallegos who was able to box with more consistency, weathering the damaging blows before firing back.
Coe was dropped once again in the seventh, this time by an uppercut followed by a pair of right hands. Coe was knocked down again in the eighth round, this time on a body shot, as it appeared there was no more fight left in the prized prospect. Referee Eric Dali suggested to Coe’s trainer, Wali Cooper, that the fight be stopped after the eighth round, but the fight was allowed to continue. Dali finally made the decision for them when Coe was dropped for the fourth time just seconds into the round.
The loss was a stunning setback for Coe, who had been a fast rising star in the light heavyweight division after several meaningful wins on DAZN. The loss is his first blemish since his second pro fight in 2021, when he was held to a draw by Aaron Casper.
Gallegos, 27, sees his career rise to a new level after suffering a draw against Richard Vansiclen and a fourth round TKO loss to Diego Pacheco in July of 2023 in his last two fights.
The Coe-Gallegos fight was part of the Jaron Ennis-Karen Chukhadzhian II card on DAZN.