SAN JOSE – Circle left, circle right.
That’s what world featherweight champ Kelsey
”
The Road Warrior
”
Jeffries did to trap Atlanta’s Rolanda Andrews in the corner
time after time in Thursday’s Miller Lite Fight Night At The
Tank.
SAN JOSE – Circle left, circle right.
That’s what world featherweight champ Kelsey “The Road Warrior” Jeffries did to trap Atlanta’s Rolanda Andrews in the corner time after time in Thursday’s Miller Lite Fight Night At The Tank.
And once she got her opponent where she wanted, the Hollister resident unloaded a barrage of body and head shots – which made Andrews grimace as each powerful blow connected.
“Going back she didn’t have much, but she was countering nice and she’s got a strong punch. So I was trying to catch her after she would punch. Either take that first punch – because her first punch wasn’t much – and roll with the second one,” said Jeffries, describing how she methodically pummeled Andrews en route to her unanimous decision victory.
On the judges scorecards, Jeffries won 99-91, 98-93, and 99-91.
“I got some good body shots on her and I hit her with some good straight shots,” Jeffries added. “She can take a good punch. It was just the body work. I wanted to do a little more with the body.”
Jeffries worked the body and the head throughout the 10-round fight – which saw Andrews relying on her counterpunches while absorbing a combination of power shots.
“Those body shots, wicked body shots, especially right there in the 10th round towards the end of the fight just under and over,” said trainer Rick Mello, who works Jeffries out at the Community Youth Center Gym on Sixth Street in Gilroy. “We haven’t had any easy competition. We never have. They’re either big or tough or they’re whatever.”
Andrews (6-7) was tough – staying on her feet throughout to go the distance. But Jeffries was relentless – trapping Andrews in the corner and then going blow for blow.
“I tried to step with her and I didn’t want to reach and I was pleased with myself because I didn’t reach as much as I usually do,” Jeffries said. “I could’ve been more aggressive with her, but when I’d be getting in, she would push me off and she was effective with that. She’d either push me off or tie me up.”
Early on in the fight, Jeffries remained cautious against the southpaw – feeling her out through the opening two rounds and not getting too busy with her gloves. But as the fight wore on, Jeffries got more and more opportunities to deliver some vicious hooks, straight rights, and uppercuts.
“She’s tentative with left-handers. After the first three, four rounds, I tried to get her to go to her right because the gal kept moving to her left,” Mello said. “So when I got Kelsey to move to her right the fight was over.”
Jeffries (19-7-1) successfully defended her IFBA Featherweight World title and she is also the WIBA Intercontinental Junior Lightweight Champ, the California State Featherweight Champ and the WIBA Intercontinental Junior Lightweight Champ.
In the 10th and final round, the hometown crowd filled with Jeffries’ supporters began to cheer, ‘Kelsey, Kelsey, Kelsey’ – inspiring the local prizefighter to push the action more and finish strong.
“I wanted to do so much for them. I wanted to jump on her, but I knew I was like Kelsey be cautious,” Jeffries said. “I wanted to jump on her, but I didn’t want to walk into something so I wanted to be smart.”
Jeffries – wearing her traditional black skirt bottom with “Kel-C” embroidered in white on the front and Warrior on the back as well as her black sports bra and black boxing shoes – tossed her gloves and t-shirt giveaways into the stands following the decision.
“I was somewhat happy with some things. I didn’t make as many mistakes as I usually do, but I really wanted to get inside more,” said Jeffries, in a self-analysis. “I wish I would’ve done a little better.”
The local pugilist – who trains out of Gilroy, lives in Hollister, and was born in Bakersfield – wants to fight at least once a month since she does not work at Apple Computers in San Jose anymore.
“I need to fight every month because I need to make my bills since I’m no longer at Apple,” said Jeffries, who is always keeping busy in one way or another. “I’ve got to fight every month. I’m trying to go back to school and trying to get an EMT license.”
According to Mello, there is a tentative June 5 date for the undisputed junior featherweight championship with Jeffries up against ‘Downtown’ Leona Brown, a champion in New York.
“We’re going for the undisputed championship,” Mello said.
The only knockout of the six-fight card came in the main event as NABO Welterweight Champ Jose Celaya, of Salinas, flattened Nelson Manchego in the second round of the scheduled 12-round bout.
In other action, undefeated welterweight Alvaro Padillo opened the night with a decision over Justo Almazan; unbeaten Salinas junior welterweight Luis Perez won a majority decision over Jorge Ivan Espinoza; and San Jose heavyweight Cecil McKenzie stopped Battalia Balamoundo in the third round.
