168-pound rising contender Steve Nelson hopes to land title shot by years end

Undefeated super middleweight contender Steve “So Cold” Nelson kicked off the new year in fine style with a TKO 8 over previously undefeated, German-born, California-residing Cem Kilic on January 11 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

With the win, Nelson moved to a perfect 16-0 (13 KO’s), turned more than a few heads, and made a statement that he might indeed be someone to keep an eye on in the 168-pound rankings over the next year.

Nelson had been training to fight on the undercard of stablemate Terence Crawford’s 147-pound title defense at Madison Square Garden on December 14. However, when former WBA world middleweight champion Rob Brandt sustained an injury and had to be pulled off the Atlantic City show, it was so long Gotham and hello Jersey shore for Omaha, Nebraska’s Nelson.

And while some might think that getting moved from the card at the most famous arena in the world was a setback, it wasn’t; Nelson was put into the semi-main event slot in Atlantic City, live on ESPN.

It was a big move with a lot of eyes on him going into Atlantic City and Nelson passed the audition with flying colors, impressively stopping Kilic in 8 rounds. After the fight the general buzz in boxing was that Nelson had taken that next step and in a post-fight interview said he was indeed hoping to be challenging for a world title by the end of the year. Maxboxing caught up Nelson from his home in Omaha to get his thoughts on the win and what is next in 2020.

Bill Tibbs: Hi Steve, thanks for taking a minute to chat.

Steve Nelson: No problem Bill, how ya doing?

BT: Good thanks. That was a nice win, in a nice spot, to showcase yourself in Atlantic City.

SN: Yeah, it was a good fight, it went how I thought it would go. I had seen the guy fight and I knew he was a good fighter, a tough fighter, but I felt I could beat him and I did.

BT: Did you feel anymore nervous at all with the semi-main event slot and a lot of eyes on you.

SN: I didn’t really at all. I was in good shape, I felt ready and I was excited to get in there and show what I could do. Every fight you have is important no matter what stage of your career you are at so I didn’t feel more nervous but I was excited to show what I could do and get the win.

BT: Were you disappointed at all to be off the Madison Square Garden show? You hate to lose a spot getting to fight at that arena. But, kind of a nice compliment that Top Rank felt confident putting you into a semi-main event.

SN: It came about every quickly. When I was told that Rob Brant had to pull out due to a torn bicep it was BoMac (Manager/Coach, Brian MacIntyre) who really went to bat for me. Top Rank wasn’t sure what they were going to do and BoMac said, ‘Steve do you want me to talk to them and see if I can get you onto the Atlantic City card in the semi-main event? Are you Ok with that?’ I was like ‘sure’, without hesitation. I was heading into weight-cutting week when this came up so I had to change my schedule and pull back a bit as I wasn’t fighting for a month but other than that I was like ‘yeah, let’s do it’. BoMac really stepped up and spoke up for me and got them to take a shot with me. Top Rank and ESPN were like, ‘OK, here is our chance, here ya go’ and I delivered for them. BoMac really showed a lot of confidence in me, and he always does that. He was telling Top Rank and ESPN, ‘Don’t worry, he’s ready, he’s got this.” BoMac has always been a guy that has instilled confidence in his fighters because he believes in them.

BT: You got the sense after that fight that people really started to take a close look at you and the feeling was that you had gone from an undefeated prospect to a guy who is being considered as a contender and a world title shot could be in the conversation at some point down the line in the not too distant future.

SN: The response after the fight was great and very positive, I think I came through and delivered a good win in the fight and people are going to be seeing me as a contender moving forward. And, I feel like I have a lot more tools in the toolbox that I haven’t shown them. Sometimes you take out the tools that you need to get a certain job done, but that doesn’t mean that those are all your tools. I feel I have a lot to show people that they haven’t seen, there is a lot more to Steve Nelson that I haven’t even shown them.

BT: Watching your team throughout fight week, you really have strong support from your stablemates; you guys are like a family. Terence Crawford, the best fighter in boxing, was your biggest cheerleader throughout the week. That guy has a lot of class. I mean, he’s one of boxing’s biggest stars but he knows it’s your fight week and he steps back and lets you have the spotlight. He is just happy to be there for you, cheering you on; just one of the guys. There seems to be no egos at all, just a very supportive ‘team’ feel - that’s great to see.

SN: You’re 100% correct - it isn’t a team, it is a family. A lot of these guys, BoMac, Red, Bud, all the guys, we have been around each other forever, they are family. Hey, Bud and I always say, ‘He swings, I swing’. We’re like brothers man. I can remember when I got into boxing years ago and we didn’t have anything yet and we talked about what we are gonna do and how we’d say, ‘one day I’ll fight on your undercard’ and we talked about all the things we were gonna do and now we are out there doing them. Everybody is so supportive of each other. If one guy has success, there is no jealousy, we are just happy for them. If one guy has success, we all have success. Then, if I have success everyone is happy for me. BoMac really believes in us and he makes us feel that. I mean if your coaches don’t believe in you then what is the point of having them around? Everybody inspires each other and we are happy for anybody else’s success and they are happy for your success. We a family, man.

BT: After that big win in AC, have you mapped out a plan for the rest of the year?

SN: Well, I kind of look at that fight like it was a 2019 fight because I was supposed to fight in December and that was what I was training for. So, I’d like to get in 3 more fights this year. Get back in the gym and stay ready and in shape. Just a little time off to let the body, and the mind, heal up. Then, I’m excited to go back to the gym.

BT: You did mention after the fight in your post-fight interview that you’d like to challenge for a title this year. Is that the goal? And, if so, do you have anyone in mind?

SN: Yes, that is the goal to fight for a title later this year if that’s possible. I’ll let BoMac and Top Rank and my team decide on who that is but that is a goal for sure. I don’t have anyone in mind because I concentrate on the now, not on the future. Take care of now and when the time comes I’ll be ready. Whatever champion is the best fit for me, and the best fight for me, that is what my team will decide for me. People haven’t seen the best of me yet and I feel like I have so much more to show them and I’m looking forward to showing that in the future. I have a lot more tools in the tool box.

BT: Thanks for the chat Steve.

SN: Sure, no problem, anytime Bill. Thanks.