SAN JOSE
– Although she revamped her nickname to match her road miles,
local champion Kelsey ‘The Road Warrior’ Jeffries is hoping to put
on a boxing display for her hometown fans Friday, June 13, at the
San Jose Civic Auditorium.
The garlic pugilist will put her title on the line against well-rounded opponent Jo Jo Wyman – who knocked down Jeffries before losing a decision in their previous encounter.
Jeffries’ long-time trainer Rick Mello is promoting the locally-based pro-am card – along with a partner – under Upfront & Undisputed Sports Entertainment. Tickets – which range from $25 up to $80 – for the seven-card event can be purchased on ticketmaster.com or at the door the day of the event starting at noon. There will be four professional bouts and three amateur bouts.
“If the fight in San Jose goes well, we’ll probably bring a fight down to Gilroy by the end of the year before the rain starts,” said Mello, who’s been looking into an outdoor fight for Jeffries at the Christmas Hill Park ampitheatre.
Along with Jeffries (20-7, 1 KO) being the featured 10-round bout of the night for the first time in her career, superwelterweights James Buggs, of South San Francisco, and Jesse ‘Shotgun’ Martinez, of San Jose, will square off in another anticipated rematch.
“You’re going to see a great night of fighting. We have fighters at the same skill levels,” Mello said. “I want to clean up boxing.”
The seven-card event was originally tagged Night of the Belles because it was going to have mostly women fights – but Jeffries and Wyman are now the only females signed up.
Jeffries – who trains at the Gilroy Community Youth Center Gymnasium on Sixth Street and resides in Hollister – endured a flash knockdown from Wyman in the opening round of their last fight before surging back to win by unanimous decision.
“This is going to be a barnburner,” Mello said. “Kelsey is ready for her.”
