Winning the first time around is the ideal scenario but revenge is a feeling like no other.

Khalil Coe was viewed as somewhat of a hype job when he came up short against Manuel Gallegos in 2024. At no point during Gallegos’ career did he prove to be anything other than a durable journeyman. Yet, against Coe, he looked like a heralded talent.

In their immediate rematch, Coe said that things would be different. He was hospitalized on two separate occasions before the first fight after being diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. But now, with a clean bill of health, the 'Big Steppa' promised to step on his man. And, that’s exactly what he did.

After savagely stopping Gallegos last weekend, Coe’s confidence is through the roof. He doesn’t have a ton of fights under his belt, but he is 28 and doesn’t want to waste his time being buried on undercards against opponents he feels he can beat. Facing bottom dwellers is a good way to fatten his record but in order to get to where he wants, he knows his opponents have to improve considerably.

“I wanna fight the guys like (Joshua) Buatsi, Craig Richards,” Coe told Tha Boxing Voice. “The guys that have been on that stage. I’m ready to compete with those types of guys.”

Fights against Buatsi and Richards may not be far-fetched. Richards is 3-3 in his last six and needs a bit of momentum to push his name up the ranks. Buatsi, on the other hand, is coming off the first loss of his career against Callum Smith. In addition to losing his undefeated record, Buatsi also dropped his WBO interim title.

An opposing fighter's record isn’t important to Coe. He’s looking for status. Whoever can gift with credibility in that sense, is who he’ll target going forward.

“I want all the smoke man.”