Jeffries will face Villarreal in Oregon for Global Boxing World
Title; Ghost defends IBF title with bout against Honorio in
Arizona
Kelsey “Road Warrior” Jeffries’ schedule just got a little busier.
On top of spending 30 hours a week attending classes at Gavilan College, and 15 hours a week as a volunteer fire fighter, she is now hitting the gym three hours a day in preparation for a Nov. 3 title fight.
Details were finalized this week for a bout between Jeffries and 32-year-old featherweight Elizabeth “The Pearl” Villarreal. The fight will take place at Seven Feathers Casino and Resort Hotel in Canyonville, Ore for the Global Boxing Union World Title.
“I’m really excited,” Jeffries said. “I can’t wait to get back in the ring.”
After defeating Donna “The Nature Girl” Biggers in a fight at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. in July, Jeffries (38-9-1, 3 KOs) will again be facing a bigger opponent in the 5-foot, 7-inch Villarreal. The native of San Antonio enters the bout with a record of 4-4-2, losing her last decision on Sept. 27.
Jeffries said fighting in Oregon won’t be a problem as she views the location as a home away from home.
“They’re a great casino and they’re very supportive,” she said.
What will be a daunting task for Jeffries is handling all of her responsibilities up until November.
“For me, my priorities are school, boxing and fire (fighting), and probably fire is gonna have to take a cut as the fight gets closer,” Jeffries said. “School can’t, so fire has to.”
Working on earning a degree in physiology, Jeffries is starting to prepare for life after boxing, despite having world titles to defend.
“As long as I’m not moving – I’m not jumping, running and punching – I’m studying,” she said.
In a few weeks though, Jeffries says she intends on having her opponent study something: Her jab.
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n Josh Koehn Staff Writer
First it was Las Vegas, then it was Mexico. Now, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero intends on retaining his IBF Featherweight title at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Ariz.
“I’m happy it’s gonna be here in the states,” Guerrero said by phone Wednesday night. “(But) like I said, I just want to fight. I just want to get in the ring. It doesn’t matter where it’s gonna be.”
For the two-time 126-pound champion, patience has been a virtue.
The original fight had Guerrero taking on Rocky Juarez, before The Ghost’s opponent was moved up to the main event to face Juan Manuel Marquez. On short notice, Guerrero (20-1-1, 13 KOs) had to start preparing for a completely different adversary in Martin “El Brochas” Honorio (24-3-1, 12 KOs), who is six inches taller than Juarez. The entire card was then canceled when an infection to Marquez’s hand wouldn’t heal in time for the fight. A week later, it was announced that the main event from the previous card and Guerrero’s fight would be paired together for a card on November 3. The detail of where was still to be determined.
What excites Guerrero, and should excite his fans, is the change in broadcast that came with a change in date. Rather than being on HBO PPV – with a price tag of $49.99 – the fight will now take place on cable channel Showtime.
“It’s kind of nice because the people that can’t afford the Pay-Per-View (but) get Showtime, they’re able to watch it,” Guerrero said.
Another thing that excites Guerrero, and should excite his fans, is the amount of time he has had to prepare in picking apart Honorio.
“I was already in top shape, getting ready to go before the fight,” Guerrero said. “Now, it’s nice because I get to sharpen up on a lot of stuff, really study and know him like the back of my hand.”
