One could say that the June 12 bout between Kelsey
”
The Road Warrior
”
Jeffries and Jessica
”
Goodnite
”
Mohs has been 12 years in the making.
Record-wise, the two fighters are at opposite ends of the
spectrum
– with the IFBA Featherweight champ, Jeffries, entering at
40-9-1 and Mohs coming in at 7-17-2 – but the two seem to cross
paths rather routinely.
One could say that the June 12 bout between Kelsey “The Road Warrior” Jeffries and Jessica “Goodnite” Mohs has been 12 years in the making.
Record-wise, the two fighters are at opposite ends of the spectrum – with the IFBA Featherweight champ, Jeffries, entering at 40-9-1 and Mohs coming in at 7-17-2 – but the two seem to cross paths rather routinely.
“She’s been a proposed opponent for me before and I said ‘yes,’ but nothing has ever panned out,” said Jeffries, who recollects the last time was 1996 in San Jose. “I’ve known of her for a long time, but we just haven’t been in the ring together.”
Jeffries hasn’t been in the ring since Dec. 23 when she dispatched Yun-Jung Jun by unanimous decision in South Korea. Although the bruising boxer knew she would be fighting on June 12 at the Seven Feathers Casino and Hotel Resort in Canyonville, Ore., she was unaware of her opponent until last week.
Jeffries’ IFBA belt will not be on the line, but after four title defenses last year, and the fact that she’s been focusing on her schooling at Gavilan College since her December bout, a non-title fight is nice to have every once in a while.
“I love going to war in big fights. I love challenges,” Jeffries said. “But I know I’m gonna have two tough fights in September and December, so it’s nice not to have a war right now.
“But I’m gonna prepare for a war … The title isn’t on the line, but I don’t take it lightly.”
Considering she’s nearly fought Mohs before, Jeffries does know a little about the Oklahoman, who is listed as a 5-foot-3 lightweight.
Jeffries knows Mohs, 36, has a decent right hand and has been fighting since she was 10-years-old. Mohs recently lost to Noriko Kariya (9-2-1) by unanimous decision, and hasn’t won a fight since defeating Melinda Woody (1-4-0) by knockout on May 11 of 2007 – four fights ago.
Despite the dismal record, Jeffries’ manager Bruce Anderson notes how deceiving records can sometimes be, especially in female boxing where fighters are moving up and down weight classes just to simply get on a card.
“Looking at the records, it looks like it’ll be real easy, but you never know,” Anderson said. “Sometimes it’s best to go in there and just fight your fight. If [Jeffries] has to make changes, she’ll do it as it comes.”
Anderson said the contract weight for the fight will be 125 pounds, and Jeffries expects Mohs to take advantage of the one-pound leeway, meaning the Oklahoma boxer could be at 126 pounds on June 12.
Jeffries, who traveled to Florida on Saturday to begin training, is seeking a weight of 123.5 pounds, although that may be difficult in Florida’s June heat. Said Anderson, “I’m gonna try and fill her up with bananas or something.”
Underweight or not, Jeffries fully expects to be ready to go on June 12, and perhaps deliver a good-night punch on “Goodnite” Mohs.
“I’ve been itching to be back in the ring,” Jeffries said. “I prepare for the worst possible scenario. I don’t like surprises.”
