Hollister’s Kelsey Jeffries meets Jackie Nava Jan. 28 for the
WBC title bout
She holds five championship belts, which include two world
titles. If she were a man she’d be a multi-millionaire and most
likely on the cover of Wheaties boxes everywhere.
As a woman, however, Hollister’s Kelsey
”
The Road Warrior
”
Jeffries is forced to supplement her boxing career ambitions by
also working as a paid call firefighter for the city of Hollister.
It’s a job she loves and a career she will pursue further once her
days in the ring have come to a close. But for now the 30-year-old
fighter is training for her next bout against reigning World Boxing
Council Junior Featherweight champion Jackie Nava, which takes
place on Jan. 28 in Cancun, Mexico.
Hollister’s Kelsey Jeffries meets Jackie Nava Jan. 28 for the WBC title bout
She holds five championship belts, which include two world titles. If she were a man she’d be a multi-millionaire and most likely on the cover of Wheaties boxes everywhere.
As a woman, however, Hollister’s Kelsey “The Road Warrior” Jeffries is forced to supplement her boxing career ambitions by also working as a paid call firefighter for the city of Hollister. It’s a job she loves and a career she will pursue further once her days in the ring have come to a close. But for now the 30-year-old fighter is training for her next bout against reigning World Boxing Council Junior Featherweight champion Jackie Nava, which takes place on Jan. 28 in Cancun, Mexico.
Jeffries, whose professional record is 33-8, is already the reigning California State Women’s Champion in featherweight division – a title she has held since 2002. In the same class she also holds the title belt in the Women’s International Boxing Federation and the International Female Boxing Association. She is the junior lightweight champion (130 pounds) in the Women’s International Boxing Association and is also the champion of that weight class in the International Boxing Association – her most prized belt.
Winning the WBC’s title this coming weekend would be another cherished accomplishment in her stellar career in the ring, which started in 1999, the year she turned professional.
On Monday, we had a chance to talk with Jeffries about her upcoming title bout and what it would be like to hold six belts at once as well as her career and plans for the future.
Q: You turned professional at the age of 23. Now after a number of bouts and title belts what is it that keeps you motivated? What is it that you like most about boxing?
A: The challenge, definitely the challenge. The fact that I’m doing something that a lot of people didn’t think I could do or should do. And I’m doing it. I love that.
Q: This next fight takes place on the 28th and it’s a fight for the Junior Welterweight title of the WBC. You’re leaving this Tuesday for Mexico. You said it’s a belt the WBC recently created for women. How important will it be to win that major belt? And how good of a boxer is Nava?
A: That’s going to be a tough fight. She’s from Mexico, from Tijuana. Trying to take a belt away from her in her country is going to be hard, but I’m confident. I’m going to have to win every round. I’m not going to have to knock her out but I’m going to have to come close. I’m going to have to take it to her better than I ever have in a big event.
Q: Female boxers typically make anywhere from $3,500 to $10,000 for a big fight. If you were a man a fight like this might be for $3 million. What type of money will you make for this fight? And will it be your best pay day?
A: I’m not going to discuss money right now. My manager didn’t want me to talk about it either. But I am a world champion. I should be making tons of money. Sometimes it’s frustrating that the guys make tons of money. But I’m a realist. I know who I am and where I’m at.
Q: Maybe it’s different for women. At 30, do you feel like your career is winding down or are you just hitting your prime?
A: Boxing is different for men than it is for women. I feel good. I haven’t been in too many brawls. Women hit hard but not like a man. I still feel great. If I quit it won’t be because of boxing it will be because of the business side of it. I’m not saying that it’s rigged but promoters have their fighters and they’re going to bring some challenger into the ring that their guy can beat. On paper, their fighter can already beat the fighter they’re going to fight. And everybody wants a piece of your money. They all try to take a piece out of your pocket. That’s what I don’t like about it. It’s a dirty business.
Q: How did you get into boxing in the first place?
A: I grew up in Hawaii in Oahu and moved here in 1997. Kickboxing on the island was always real big. And Dennis Alexio, the big movie star, lived there and did a lot for the community. There are also a lot of Asians so martial arts were real big there too. I eventually got into kickboxing because I’m a white girl over there. A lot of locals beat me up. I had to learn to defend myself. When I first took up kickboxing my coach only wanted to focus on the boxing part of it. So that’s how it all started. Then when we moved to California in 1997 I started my amateur career. I only had nine fights in four years because it was tough to get a female fight back then, and it still is. I became the Golden Gloves State Champion out of San Francisco for three years in a row beginning in 1997.
Q: Who is your favorite fighter?
A: Arturo Gatti. He’s a light welterweight. I used to watch him on TV all the time. He was just a warrior, my hero. Now Buddy McGirt trains both of us. I never forget the first time I went to Vero Beach, Florida for training camp and Arturo was there working out too. I was in heaven.
Q: You’re now sponsored by the U.S. Army. How did that come about?
A: I really like that and I’m proud of that. They sponsor The Tank (San Jose Shark Tank) for fight nights. They wanted a list of local fighters that they could sponsor and they chose me. I was honored. When I fight now two guys walk me into the ring in camouflage and after the fight they say that I’m represented by the Army. I haven’t fought on a base yet, but I’d like too.
Q: What do you think needs to happen in women’s boxing for there to be bigger paydays like what the men get?
A: I don’t think it will happen. Look at women’s soccer. It’s right there. But for some reason people do not want to watch women athletes or see women get hit. It’s going to take someone with a lot of money who’s willing to lose it to promote it in a much bigger way. I got into boxing not because of the money but because I love it and I love to workout.
Q: How long do you think you’ll keep fighting?
A: Buddy tells me that when it’s time for me to quit that he’ll show up with two cigars one day – one for me and one for him. We’ll smoke them to my retirement. He’s not going to say anything to me – just show up with the cigars. Until he gives me those cigars I plan to keep fighting because I love it. Last year I had only three fights, but I’m always trying to improve and I’ve still got my drive.
Q: When you finally do retire from the sport, how do you want to be remembered?
A: As the best women fighter ever – period. I want to be known for my skills in the ring and as the best boxer. I want to be known as a natural athlete who had good skills.
