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07/21/2004 Archived Entry: ""ROAD WARRIOR" JEFFRIES IN THE COLD WHEN MCGEE PULLS NO-SHOW"
"ROAD WARRIOR" JEFFRIES IN THE COLD WHEN MCGEE PULLS NO-SHOW
By Katherine Dunn
Valanna McGee has disappeared. That’s the only word coming out of the Shark Tank for the moment. Mcgee, (5-2-1, 1 KO,) of Sacramento, was under contract to fight an eight round re-match with IFBA featherweight champ Kelsey "Road Warrior" Jeffries (27-8-0, 2 KO’s) on Thursday, July 22 at the Shark Tank, AKA the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.
The two fought a tough, close bout in September 2003 with Jeffries winning a split decision. That first bout was at McGee’s weight, 126. The contract weight for the re-match was more comfortable for Jeffries at 123 pounds, plus or minus one.
Still, when Jeffries showed up in San Jose for the weigh-in on Wednesday, July 21, she was told that McGee had disappeared and the fight was off. Jeffries weighed in anyway, tipping the scales at 120 pounds. The licensed promoter of this show is Sugar Ray Leonard Promotions, but Leonard is phasing out of the promotional business. To fulfill the three remaining shows on his contract with the Shark Tank, Leonard agreed to have local promoter George Chung coordinate and do the actual work. Chung took responsibility for making a match for Jeffries, who has fought in the Shark Tank six times and is a fan favorite. Under California rules, if one fighter doesn’t show the contract is voided so the promoter doesn’t owe Jeffries anything. Still, classy Steve Rivera of Sugar Ray Leonard Promotions arranged for Jeffries to be paid a thousand dollars for coming in trained and ready—a fraction of what her purse would have been had the fight taken place. On fight night, Jeffries will make an appearance at the HP Pavilion VIP Lounge and will be introduced in the ring during the show.
As of Wednesday night, July 21, we still haven’t heard what happened to Valanna McGee.
