Kel-C heads to Korea for fight against unknown boxer
She’s the champion of the world but she’s decided to fight her
50th professional bout on her opponent’s terms. And that could
spell disaster for Hollister’s Kel-C Jeffries, who will take on
unknown fighter Yun-Jung Jun in a 10-round title bout tomorrow in
Eumsung, South Korea.
Kel-C heads to Korea for fight against unknown boxer
She’s the champion of the world but she’s decided to fight her 50th professional bout on her opponent’s terms. And that could spell disaster for Hollister’s Kel-C Jeffries, who will take on unknown fighter Yun-Jung Jun in a 10-round title bout tomorrow in Eumsung, South Korea.
“I know nothing about her. I saw her picture. She’s real big and broad. She looks like a dude, and she may even be,” said Jeffries, who is putting her International Female Boxing Association featherweight title on the line. “I heard stories about some guys dressing up as women in other countries and fighting. My fights just seem to keep getting weirder. It’s a little scary going over there. But they’re offering me a significant amount of money so it is worth my while, even with the chance of my title being stolen from me.”
By stolen Jeffries is referring to her concern that without a single U.S. judge, official or referee present that she will have to knock her opponent out in order to keep her title. Simply out boxing her won’t be enough. Yet knocking someone out is not a common result in women’s boxing. In Jeffries’ 49 fights so far, she has a record of 39-9-1 with only three by way of knockout.
“They say she doesn’t have very many fights but she is a big, thick girl,” Jeffries said.
Although the fight won’t be judged by anybody from the IFBA there will at least be one official there from the U.S.-based organization that is sanctioning the bout.
“They are all going to be Korean judges. We tried to get a neutral judge but they are making excuses,” said Jeffries, who will return home on Christmas day. “The promoter wanted the fight over there so that’s how it happened.”
Another concern for Jeffries is that she doesn’t know exactly where the fight will take place.
“I don’t know if it will be inside, outside, in a gymnasium or what. I’m kind of blind on the whole thing,” she said. “The only thing that I do know is that it’s about a two-hour drive from Seoul.”
Know in the U.S. as “The Road Warrior” for her willingness to take on opponents anywhere and everywhere, this will be Jeffries furthest fight from home. She has fought in Japan and Germany.
With textbook skills and technique, Jeffries is often able to earn points with her prowess for landing the scoring blows to the head and body while boxing her way out of trouble. Against Jun, Jeffries plans on dancing less and brawling more.
“I’m not going to be able to make it a decision fight,” said the 5-foot-4 122-pound champion. “I know that I have to knock her out to win. I’ve got to go to war – not fight her war but fight mine. I’ve got to make it rough and tough and I have to push myself.”
Although the fight won’t be broadcast in the U.S. it will be aired on Korean television.
“My fans won’t be able to see me unless they have satellite. But tell them that I need their support and to pray for me,” Jeffries said. “I’ve got to beat more than just her – I have to beat her, the judges and the officials too.”
