SAN JOSE
–– Local prizefighter Kelsey
”
The Road Warrior
”
Jeffries introduced opponent Linda Tenberg to her version of the
combination platter through all six rounds of Friday’s Fight Night
At The Tank series at HP Pavilion at San Jose.
SAN JOSE –– Local prizefighter Kelsey “The Road Warrior” Jeffries introduced opponent Linda Tenberg to her version of the combination platter through all six rounds of Friday’s Fight Night At The Tank series at HP Pavilion at San Jose.
Using some blistering combinations to the head and body, Jeffries pounded on the taller fighter out of Austin, Texas, winning by unanimous decision with 60-54 tallies on all judges’ scorecards.
“We’ve been working on the combinations where we’re having her put together four, five, six, seven-punch combinations going after about six targets, five targets to keep her opponent confused,” cornerman Rick Noble said. “She was able to get those combinations off and they worked well, and we worked a couple of other things, too.”
Although Jeffries slimmed down to the 122-pound division – after boxing at 126 pounds last season – Tenberg (8-9, 4 KO’s) not only towered over Jeffries, but looked as if she outweighed her by 20 pounds.
“She’s big,” said Jeffries of Tenberg. “This year, I’m going to 122, right, and this girl looked like 135 in the ring. I’m going back to that same old thing, but it was a good fight.”
At least a good fight for Jeffries, who did take a shot here or there from Tenberg but spent most of the fight inflicting the damage. The victory upped the garlic pugilist’s professional record to 25-8 with 2 KO’s.
“Whenever I would go inside, she would put her weight on me. She was really heavy on the inside. She was heavier than that (Kelli) Cofer girl,” said Jeffries, who has dealt with a number of bigger opponents in her career. “She was very tall and awkward. She was a tough girl. I would just nail her, and she’d keep coming around and just couldn’t get that lucky shot in.”
Jeffries clocked Tenberg with a vicious overhand right in the sixth and final round, but the oak tree couldn’t be chopped down.
“Actually, my hand hurt it was so hard,” Jeffries said. “I felt it all the way down my arm and I thought I can’t believe that girl is still standing.”
Always a fan favorite at The Tank, Jeffries played to the crowd of 3,689 boxing fans with a dominating performance. Tenberg stood straight up with little footwork, making her an easy target for Jeffries, who landed a vast majority of her punches thrown.
“We wanted her to go to the body, but she didn’t need to. The girl was pushing her. She didn’t get the girl up against the ropes or anything like that. The girl stood in front of her,” Noble said. “She was able to get her shots off and get them off first, and when she needed to get out of the way, she got out of the way, which was important.”
Jeffries was in the fourth fight of the five-fight night, slated as the semi-main event, promoted for the first time by Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing.
Last season, Oscar De La Hoya Promotions backed the series. Leonard, who wore a white-and-black Puma jumper, was in attendance and even stepped into the ring to address the San Jose fans.
In the main event, Daniel Seda remained undefeated at 20-0-1 with 16 KO’s, with a unanimous decision over Anthony Martinez.
The night began with Francisco Arce, who absorbed a pair of low blows in the fourth inning, winning by unanimous decision. After William Harmon dropped Oliver Foye 2:06 into the opening round, Ben Dunne, of Dublin, Ireland, won a unanimous decision over Evangelino Perez.
A lighter Jeffries, who is expected to fight for a 122-pound championship belt in the upcoming months, followed by knocking around Tenberg for six rounds. Her most impressive round came in the fourth when she unloaded on her opponent’s face from the start to finish.
“She’s much quicker. It’s a little bit better weight (at 122) and her strength still stayed with her. She did fine. We’re real happy with the combinations. She tried them. They worked. That was the important thing,” Noble said. “It was a good opponent to try a couple of things and play it safe. I didn’t want her to play around. I told her you have to be careful. There’s no playing around today.”
Jeffries has been training under former professional boxer James ‘Buddy’ McGirt, who works with her in Florida and then allows Noble to reinforce his strategy back in California.
Jeffries still calls Gilroy her home, training out of the Gilroy Community Youth Center Gym on Sixth Street, and resides in Hollister.
“Buddy trains her and he tries to keep her on what Buddy’s trying to do,” manager Bruce Anderson said. “She has one trainer. Buddy McGirt is her trainer. Rick helps to add on what Buddy’s doing.”
It was at McGirt’s request that Jeffries cut weight down to the 122-pound class.
“She’s going to go for the 122-pound title. Buddy McGirt thinks she needs to be down there,” Anderson said. “We have a title shot. I think it’s going to be in June in Oregon or here in July.”
“I feel quicker. I feel stronger. I’m going to capture the 122-pound title,” said Jeffries before going to take a shower. “I love being here.”
