Kelsey
”
The Road Warrior
”
Jeffries wasn’t in a particularly good mood to talk. And that is
good news if you talk to her manager Bruce Anderson.
By Greg Chapman Staff Writer
Kelsey “The Road Warrior” Jeffries wasn’t in a particularly good mood to talk. And that is good news if you talk to her manager Bruce Anderson.
He said Jeffries (37-9-1) is just acting like a typical boxer when fight night nears. She will defend her 126-pound IFBA Featherweight World Title in a 10-round bout against Donna “Nature Girl” Biggers on Monday, July 2 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.
“She’s a fighter that’s a champion that gets an edge,” Anderson said. “That’s what makes her what she is. When she gets like this, that’s what lets me know she’s going to kick some ass.”
If Jeffries wasn’t a little testy Anderson would be concerned. Since she is though, he knows she’s taking things seriously, which is the same for all her fights.
Right now, Jeffries is getting focused on what she has ahead, before departing for Temecula.
“That’s what they (athletes) do,” Anderson said. “The good ones.”
An occurring theme with Jeffries is fighting bigger opponents.
Although Anderson said he doesn’t like to look backwards at previous fights, Jeffries’ last opponent Rhonda Luna was undefeated and under the weight limit of 126 pounds. However, Anderson said he would imagine that she was 138 to 140 pounds when the fight started.
The weigh-in will take place on Sunday, and Jeffries said she is the smallest she has ever been because of the training she has been doing for the past two months.
Anderson doesn’t anticipate Jeffries’ weight making much of a difference in the fight because it’s not unusual for her to fight bigger opponents and be successful.
One thing that could make a difference in the fight is the absence of Jeffries’ trainer, Buddy McGirt.
McGirt will be in Cologne, Germany, for a IBF heavyweight title fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Lamont Brewster. McGirt is also a trainer for Brewster.
Assigned to stand in for McGirt in Jeffries’ corner is Victor Ramos. Although she isn’t thrilled, she said she is satisfied.
“Yeah, I’m going to miss Buddy,” Jeffries said. “I don’t like it, but I’m comfortable with my skills, and this guy (Ramos) telling me what to do.”
What makes Jeffries comfortable is her trust in McGirt, who said that Ramos is OK and has McGirt’s marching orders. Before the fight Anderson will make sure the corner continues to be calm and doesn’t yell at Jeffries while the fight is taking place.
“Well, everybody is an expert and if their fighter is getting themselves in deep water, next thing you know you have chaos in the corner,” Anderson said. “But, we have a very smooth operation here. Kelsey is a professional. She’s a champion.”
Jeffries and McGirt are in contact everyday and he has been keeping her on track for her workout routine.
She trained for one month in Florida with McGirt before coming back to the South Valley this past month. The fight can’t come any sooner.
“It’s been a long two months,” Jeffries said. “I’m ready to go, I’m ready to fight.”
The fight will air on Fox Sports Network July 12.
