Gilroy – Her face might be on the promotional posters, but Kelsey “Ali’i Warrior of the South Bay” Jeffries won’t be fighting in this week’s Fight Night at the Tank at HP Pavilion as previously scheduled.
When told Monday morning who promoter Goossen Tutor had set up as an opponent, Jeffries’ manager Bruce Anderson pulled his fighter from Thursday’s card, which is being headlined by Hector Camacho Jr.
Anderson said the proposed opponent, 5-foot-6 Super Featherweight Valanna McGee, was two weight classes heavier than Jeffries, and not one of the 12 fighters (who ranged from 122 to 126 pounds) that Anderson recommended to Goossen Tutor matchmaker Tom Brown as possible opponents.
“I said no. She’s not the kind of fighter I would consider,” Anderson said. “I’m not going to put in Kelsey with someone that big.”
Brown said he had trouble finding an opponent to get in the ring with the 33-9 Jeffries for the money Goossen Tutor was offering for the fight.
Anderson was also disappointed that it took Goossen Tutor so long to find an opponent. Jeffries had been committed to the fight for six weeks.
Jeffries, who lost for the first time since June 2003 in January to Jackie Nava in a World Boxing Council (WBC) Female Super Bantamweight title fight, needs seven wins to earn 40 wins for her career. But as the 30-year-old Jeffries has become more successful, fewer opponents have wanted to face her.
