Jeffries’ opponent a no show at weigh-in; World champion not
expected to fight Thursday at The Tank
SAN JOSE – Kelsey Jeffries came into Wednesday night’s weigh-in at Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Jose in the best shape of her professional career, stepping on the scale at 120 pounds.
There was only one problem.
Her scheduled opponent, Sacramento’s Valanna McGee, was a no show.
The two were supposed to touch gloves in an anticipated rematch on tonight’s Miller Lite Fight Nite at The Tank card, but that went out the window when McGee simply vanished.
According to Jeffries’ manager Bruce Anderson, the fight promoters were unable to get in touch with either McGee herself nor any of her representatives, leaving everyone in the dark.
“My heart is for the fans and it breaks my heart for the fans more than myself,” said Jeffries, who is undefeated in her six previous fights at The Tank. “A lot people from Gilroy are coming to watch me fight and that’s why I take these chances.”
There was something wrong from the very beginning when the matchmakers did not notify Jeffries of who her opponent would be until Monday.
Originally, Jeffries was slotted to go up against Carla Wilcox in an eight-round fight at 122 pounds. But that soon changed and McGee, who had just registered a second-round knockout on July 8, was announced as her new opponent.
Jeffries was familiar with McGee since the two had tangled back on September 19, 2003 in Bakersfield. Jeffries won a split decision despite getting stunned with a right in the opening round. McGee and her camp had claimed they were robbed, adding some intrigue to the return bout.
“I think she might be playing a game with me and she still might show up. She could come tomorrow, get weighed in and make the fight,” said Jeffries, who will still be on hand Thursday and will be announced in the ring. “I’m going to prepare in my mind for a fight.”
As of press-time, however, the whereabouts of McGee were still unknown and Jeffries was still “ready for a war.”
“She’s a champion,” said Anderson of Jeffries. “She’s got such strength of character that certainly it’s disappointing to go through what she is going through, but 120 pounds meant she took this fight seriously.”
Anderson made it clear the people that be running the fight were not on the ball to find an opponent for Jeffries. Anderson said Sugar Ray Leonard Promotions still runs the show, but George Chung was put in charge and a local matchmaker by the name of Jeff Ruf was given the job of finding fighters.
“They made no effort. I gave them a list of 10 names of 122-, 123- pounders,” Anderson said. “They said they had no funds to bring anybody in (from out of state). … I told them people aren’t lining up at corner to fight Kelsey.”
Anderson added he even compromised and said he would go as high as 124 pounds for the fight. He gave the matchmakers another list of 10 more fighters. McGee was not on either list, but somehow she was chosen as Jeffries’ opponent.
“This should have been a championship fight with McGee. They came up with McGee a week ago, but they said she could only make 26,” said Anderson, who flew in from Oregon for the fight. “I said OK to save the show and out of respect for the venue I’ll give you another pound. They said OK.”
On Tuesday morning, Anderson got the contract and, after his demands were met for it to definitely be an eight-round fight, the contract was agreed upon.
“The rest was history,” he said.
Jeffries will still fight if McGee shows up sometime prior to the fight, but the chances of that happening remain slim with no contact from her opponent.
“I feel like I owe it to the fans. I’m a fighter. That’s what I do,” Jeffries said. “It’s a little discouraging, but that’s the name of the game. I prepared for the best and the worst. … Everything happens for a reason.”
Although California state rules do not mandate that Jeffries get paid for her troubles, Anderson said he worked out an agreement with Sugar Ray Leonard Promotions and his fighter will be reimbursed for her training time plus some extra.
“The good side of this is most likely we’ll fight for a 122-pound world title at The Tank in September,” said Anderson, who wants Jeffries to fight for the vacated IBA and IFBA titles. “I’d like to get both titles before the year’s out.”
Jeffries, who recently won two fights in a six-day span of June, remains the California State Featherweight Champion, the IFBA World Champion, the WIBF America’s Champion, and the WIBA Intercontinental Champion. And she plans on being there tonight with or without an opponent.
“I’m going to show up. I’m bringing my fight gear,” Jeffries said. “I’m going to get in the ring and say hello to the people in my fight gear because in my mind, I am preparing for a war.”
Thursday’s card is still scheduled to go on with the opening fight beginning at 7:30 p.m.
