Jeffries Has Eyes Set on New Title in Cancun
Since she beat Leona Brown at Fight Night at the Tank at HP Pavilion last July, Kelsey Jeffries’ days have gone something like this: Wake up early, run, work out, box, take a break, box again, go home.
Day after day. Six months. No fights.
No wonder the “Ali’i Warrior of the South Bay” is more than ready to get into the ring with Mexico’s Jackie Nava Saturday for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Female Super Bantamweight title.
“Never before have I had this long of a break,” Jeffries said. “It’s riled me up a little bit. I want to fight. I just want to get in the ring.”
After a month-long postponement of the fight due to hurricane damage in host city Cancun, Jeffries will finally get that chance. The bout will kick off the WBC’s Night of Champions, a boxing and awards event expected to be heavily attended by some of the most significant people in the sport.
“That’s exciting,” Jeffries said “I’m going to be fighting in front of a lot of great fight people.”
Jeffries will have to take the WBC Super Bantamweight title from Nava, the newly-formed WBC Female’s first title holder, on the Aztec Princess’ own turf. But the 30-year-old Hollister firefighter, who has only lost one match in her last 21 fights, is looking forward to being the underdog.
“This is a really good title. But the thing about this title is that it’s based in Mexico. It’s a Mexican organization title and I’m fighting a Mexican champion in Mexico,” said Jeffries, who has won 13 straight fights. “So basically I’m going into the lion’s den and I’ve got to skin the lion and take the rug.”
Because of the context of the fight, Jeffries feels she’ll have to completely dominate Nava to have any hope of leaving Mexico with the belt.
“I’m gonna have to knock her out to get a draw,” said Jeffries, laughing.
Jeffries and the 25-year-old Nava have never fought before and their only common opponent has been Brown. Jeffries won by unanimous decision against Brown at the HP Pavilion in July. Nava defeated Brown by unanimous decision last May. From the tapes Jeffries has seen, the South Bay fighter is expecting Nava to be one of her toughest opponents yet. However, Jeffries is not really sure what to expect from the Mexican righty because Nava doesn’t fight like any other opponent she has faced.
“She doesn’t look like she’s got a lot of power. It’s hard, she’s very deceiving…She’s a good fighter, but she’s kind of lazy,” Jeffries said. “But she’s got a good right hand and right hands are not good for me…It’s one of my bad traits.”
Jeffries said she worked with trainer Buddy McGirt to improve her own right hand during her six months of training since the Brown fight. But using a lot of jabs – a Jeffries’ strength – will be key.
Saturday’s situation reminds Jeffries of when she fought then-undefeated Melissa Del Valle at the Tank in July 2003.
“I thought they were setting me up (to lose),” Jeffries recalled. “That’s how I picture this fight. I’m going to give her the worst beating of her life. If they want to give her the belt, she can have it.”
A belt for Jeffries, however, would put her one step close to her ultimate goal – becoming the 122-pound undisputed world champion.
“This is the true meaning of a ‘Road Warrior,'” said Jeffries, referring to her old nickname. “I’ve proved I’m a Road Warrior before, but this is really proving it.”
Ana Patejdl covers sports for South Valley Newspapers. She can be reached at
ap******@gi************.com
