Million Dollar Baby? An interview with Kelsey Jeffries

Ivette Ricco  

Clint Eastwood’s Academy Award winning movie, Million Dollar Baby, has struck a chord with movie viewing audiences.

There is something very basic in all of us that responds to the good versus bad backdrop of the boxing scene.

I loved the movie not only because I moved by its beautiful story-telling but also because the subject was a departure from the norm. It’s about a female athlete, a woman who believed in herself when no one else did. I am also a boxing fan and appreciated the fight scenes, although professional female boxers were not nearly as impressed as I was by Hilary Swank’s boxing skills.

Women’s boxing is drawing some interest because of Million Dollar Baby.
But the boxing world takes male boxers and chews them up and spits them out, so how will female boxers fare in this rough and tumble cutthroat world?

I became a boxing fan in the 1950’s when as a little girl growing up in the South Bronx I reveled in the electricity generated by the family gathering during the Friday Night fights, the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports.
This was the golden age of boxing. With the likes of Rocky Graziano, Kid Gavilan, Floyd Patterson, Emile Griffith and Sugar Ray Robinson to watch and admire and this young girl became a boxing fan.   If you are like many, especially most women, boxing seems like the most barbaric, brutal, and inhumane sport on the planet. If you don't know what the training regimen involves or what physical skills are necessary to become a highly ranked boxer you would think these guys were just dancing around for 10-12 rounds. Gee, how hard can that be?   But, the combination of speed, skills, physical and mental endurance, in a one on one confrontation is unmatched in any sport. The drama of a championship bout is possibly the most thrilling contest in the world of sports.
Kelsey Jeffries is a female boxer from Gilroy fighting as a lightweight. I asked her to tell us a little about her goals in this exclusive interview with www.Femmefan.com.

“Kelsey Jeffries holds five Titles including the IBA 122 lb World and IFBA 126lb World Championships. Kelsey also was picked as Fighter of the Year by WBAN in 2003 and 2004, beating out both Laila Ali and Sumya Anani. She is also an on-call Firefighter for the San Benito County, Calif. Fire Dept. I think your readers would like to meet her.” Bruce Anderson, business manager.

Ivette: The “boxing game” has taken a few hits in the last five years. Even the most avid fight aficionado has thrown in the towel, as the sport seems to have lost its heroes and its true champions. Can a female boxer reach the pinnacle of the sport, now or even in the next 15 years, in this tough and often corrupt game?

Kelsey: From a business standpoint, boxing is not the wisest choice for male or female. Being a champion is about a dream, whatever it takes to get you there you will sacrifice to get there. As for me personally I pursue to reach my highest achievement not what "the world" says is success, but what I know I can realistically achieve.  

Ivette: Can a female boxer restore the credibility of boxing?

Kelsey: Women are still in the process of gaining credibility. In order to acquire that credibility promoters have to be willing to give the best women boxers an opportunity. TV and media will help push the sport of professional women athletes.

Ivette: Women’s boxing was first displayed as the third Olympic games and gained popularity in the 1920s as women used boxing as part of their physical training.

In the following 75 years what significant strides have been made by women’s boxing?

Kelsey: In last 10-15 years there have been more women participating in amateur and professional boxing.

Ivette: Women’s professional sports have not gained the popularity enjoyed by male sports and athletes. I believe it is a question of evolution, training, and opportunity. I think that women are generations away from competing on the “economic” level that men do.
Can the female boxer expect to earn a living at her chosen craft today or is she decades away from that?

Kelsey: It is very difficult now for a female boxer to earn a living. Very few boxers are able to do that. I hope that it is not decades away.

Ivette: Women have always had to choose and balance personal and professional priorities.
If a woman chooses to become a boxer, how difficult a life is it?
What type of sacrifices must you make?

  Kelsey: Male or female, boxing is a tough sport. I do not feel as a woman I have it any tougher than a man. We both have to work hard at our craft. Sacrifices would be the same for a person striving to achieve their dream their goal in life. Work hard now and play later. The only drawback I would say for women is not expect "superstar treatment".

Ivette: How much time to you spend at the gym and training?

Kelsey: 3-4 hrs daily at a minimum.

Ivette: What is the most money earned by a female for a championship bout?

Kelsey: For an estimate anywhere from 4-10 thousand plus expenses.

Ivette: What division would you say has the best female boxers?

  Kelsey: Jr.-featherweight

Ivette: The Academy Award Winning movie, “Million Dollar Baby”, received mixed reviews from various female boxers. Isn’t any publicity good publicity?

Kelsey: Yes
Ivette: What are your personal goals for 2005?
Kelsey: Changing the general view of women’s boxing and to win my 3rd World Championship. 

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