A once-promising super middleweight prospect was found dead during the Christmas season.
BoxingScene.com regrets to report the untimely death of Cem Kilic, a Turkish boxer who passed away at just 29 years of age. The cause was an apparent drug overdose, as Kilic battled substance addiction and mental health issues for several years.
“We have learned the news of the death of one of our former national boxers,” Eyup Gozgec, president of the Turkish Boxing Federation, announced Friday. “We wish the grieving family members patience. Rest in peace.”
Kilic was born on June 6, 1994 in Neustadt, Germany. He moved to the US at age 19, where he trained in the greater Los Angeles area and resided in Sherman Oaks, California. The move coincided with his professional debut in December 2014 in Glendale, California.
The rise through the ranks included a Showtime-televised points victory over DeAndre Ware when both were undefeated prospects during the September 2018 clash. Kilic added an eighth-round stoppage of Martez McGregor (8-1 at the time) in the ESPN+ card between Tyson Fury and Tom Schwarz from June 2019 to take his record to 14-0.
His only loss came in his next fight, an eighth-round knockout to Terence Crawford teammate Steven ‘So Cold’ Nelson in January 2020, just before the global pandemic. Three victories followed, though none since last August, when he outpointed Marco Delgado over eight rounds in what represented the last fight of his career.
Kilic finished his career with a record of 17-1 (11KOs).
The news took the industry completely by surprise, particularly the lives he mentioned moving to the US from Germany. Among those devastated by the news was Shane Shapiro, a rising boxing manager whose first client was Kilic.
“I never thought I’d be writing something like this right now,” Shapiro said. “I’m in shock. RIP Cem Kilic, the first fighter who took a chance on me, someone who moved from Germany to Los Angeles, lived with me for 7 years and was part of my family. Those who know, know.
“Cem and I were always by each other’s side…we had a lot of ups and downs, and we didn’t always see eye to eye, but the memories we made together will never fade. You will always be remembered… RIP “Champ” Cem Kilic. “We went to war together.”
Staff at the Wild Card Boxing Club, where Kilic frequented, also offered a tribute to the fallen boxer.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Cem Kilic,” the establishment said in a statement through its verified Instagram account. “He left too soon. Our deepest condolences to the Kilic family and all those affected by his death. Rest in peace, Cem. “You will be greatly missed.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox
