Jeffries goes up against southpaw on Thursday in San Jose
GILROY – World champion Kelsey Jeffries has taken on all challengers.
Her next opponent, Kelly Cofer, comes all the way from Willard, Ohio for a 10-round title fight in the semi-featured main event of the Fight Night At The Tank series at the HP Pavilion on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
“She wants to come and take my title. If she’s going to take it, she’s going to have to go to hell to get it,” said Jeffries, who calls Gilroy her hometown since she began training at the Gilroy Community Youth Center Gym on Sixth Street. “I’m going to give her a tough fight. That’s not going to happen, not at my home.”
Jeffries boasts a 22-8 record with one knockout and holds five championship belts, while Cofer brings a flawless 10-0-3 record into the match with three knockouts.
“She’s a southpaw. She’s tall. She’s got a good left hand,” said Jeffries of Cofer. “She’s going to be a good opponent. She’ll be tough and give me all the challenge I need.”
In her third title defense, Jeffries is up against a bigger fighter in Cofer – who stands five-foot-nine.
“It’s going to be tough, but I’m ready for it,” said Jeffries, who is undefeated in four fights at The Tank. “I did see a little bit of her so I have an idea of what she’s got. It’s going to be a difficult fight. I have to get on her and get at her body. It’s going to be a very dirty fight for me. I’ve got to get inside and get her body.”
Jeffries – who will fight again in December against Michelle Heron in Yacama, Washington – took a trip to Florida to get some tutelage from well-known trainer James ‘Buddy’ McGirt, a former welterweight contender out of Brentwood, New York. McGirt saw a fight of Jeffries and wanted to work with her. Jeffries took him up on the invitation.
“I got some good training up there. I also went to Fresno and sparred there for a week,” said Jeffries, who will have McGirt in her corner on Thursday night. “I’ve never met a trainer as good as him. He knows his stuff.”
