Jeffries moves up weight for fight
GILROY – The bigger they are the harder they fall.
That’s the motto world champion Kelsey ‘The Road Warrior’ Jeffries is relying on as she steps back into the ring Friday night in Bakersfield against a heavier opponent in Valanna McGee for an eight-round bout.
Jeffries was looking to defend her 126-pound featherweight title – but, after not getting any takers, she decided to bump up a weight class to 129 pounds to square off with McGee, of Sacramento.
“I don’t know much about her. I just hear she’s a great fighter. I know she’s bigger than me,” Jeffries said. “All I know is she’s got it out for me. I don’t know what I did, but she wants to fight me. I’ve only heard good things about her so it should be a good fight.”
Jeffries last fought on July 10 when she won a unanimous decision over the formerly unbeaten Melissa ‘Honey Girl’ Del Valle at the San Jose Arena, where she will fight again on Nov. 6.
Friday night’s fight at Centennial Gardens in Bakersfield against the five-foot-seven McGee will be televised on two-hour delay on the Spanish-speaking channel Telesatudo at 9 p.m.
“I’m always put up against these big girls. I can’t work on my knockouts because I’m always fighting such big people,” said Jeffries, who has a pro record of 21-8 with one knockout. “I’ve got to really be sharp because if I get hit, that could be it. I’m going to work on movement and box her, or get in real close inside and take it to her.”
During her layoff, Jeffries – who continues to work with trainer Rick Noble – has been in the Fire Academy and she is half way from finishing. The academy takes place in Hollister and Gilroy at Gavilan College. She has even trained with the Gilroy Fire Department.
“With academy trying to give myself a little more of a break… The Gilroy Fire Department really helps us out,” said Jeffries, who calls Gilroy home since training out of the Community Youth Center Gym on Sixth Street. “Gilroy still is home. That’s what I represent when I fight.”
Jeffries can be found on the Web site of her newest sponsor, weightbest.com, and she’s been using the supplement in her training.
“It helps me in boxing and in firefighting it really helps me,” Jeffries said.
