Jeffries retains her IFBA featherweight title with
split-decision win over Luna
Kelsey Jeffries says she’s always a little bit nervous at the end of a fight while awaiting the announcement of the decision.
“There’s always that doubt,” Jeffries said. “You never know what the judges are going to do.”
So when the scoring of the second judge in Thursday’s International Female Boxers Association featherweight title defense bout was read 96-94 in favor of Rhonda Luna, there were some concerns in Jeffries corner, despite the fact that she felt she had clearly won the fight.
“When I heard the score for her, I worried a little bit,” said Jeffries, who took the scoring 97-93 on the first judge’s card.
Fortunately for Jeffries, she was able to breathe a sigh of relief when the final judged scored the fight 96-94 in favor of the South Valley boxer to give her a sixth successful defense of the IFBA title.
“It was wonderful, just a big relief,” Jeffries said of her emotions of winning the fight.
The 10-round bout, which took place at the Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque, N.M., was a tightly contested battle with the previously undefeated Luna (12-1-1) showing more strength but Jeffries (37-9-1) using more skill and quickness.
“(Luna) was big and strong,” Jeffries said. “But I was faster and probably had a bit more on the skill side. And I have the best corner in the world – Buddy McGirt. My corner won me that fight.”
Jeffries appeared to get stronger in the later rounds and a strong right hand to Luna’s forehead created a large welt.
“That was an extra right hand I hit her with,” Jeffries said. “I knew she was worried about it.”
At the end of the final round, Luna confidently threw her arms up in the air, and Jeffries followed suit.
“That’s just telling the people that I won the fight. Sometimes you have to try to convince the judges,” Jeffries said.
The win was Jeffries fourth in a row. She last won Nov. 4 in a unanimous decision against Lina Ramirez.
In the main event of the card televised on Fox Sports Network, hometown fighter Holly Holm earned a unanimous decision over Ann Marie Saccurato in a six-belt unification bout. Lisa Brown decisioned Jackie Chavez in the other semi-main event.
All in all, the night was a big one for women’s boxing with three title fights on the card and Jeffries was honored to be a part of it.
“That was a big honor as an athlete,” Jeffries said. “It was a history-making event.”
Jeffries arrived back home in Hollister on Friday afternoon and is ready to take some time to unwind before resuming her training.
“It’s great to be back in Hollister,” she said. “I love it here.”
Manager Bruce Anderson said the plan is to go to camp in Florida in May and he’ll wait for the right fight to come up, but not before resting for a little while.
“I’ll see what comes up,” Anderson said. I’m not looking for another war, unless there’s a lot of money out there.”
Anderson said he was proud of the way Jeffries handled herself in a fight where Luna appeared to be the crowd favorite to the majority Hispanic crowd.
“They didn’t know who (Jeffries) was when we got there but they know who she is now,” Anderson said. “She lit that place up.”
