Kaliesha West
Born
Kaliesha West

(1988-02-11) February 11, 1988
South Haven, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other names"Wild Wild"
Statistics
Weight(s)Super Bantamweight
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights21
Wins17
Wins by KO4
Losses1
Draws3
No contests0

Kaliesha West (born February 11, 1988) is a professional female boxer and the former 3 times WBO Female Bantamweight and IFBA super Bantamweight Boxing World Champion. She was born on February 11, 1988, in South Haven, Michigan.[1] West currently resides in Moreno Valley California, a small suburb between Riverside and Palm Springs. West is a motivational speaker and an advocate for women's rights and women's boxing.

On September 18, 2010, West won the WBO title, becoming the first world boxing champion from the Inland Empire.[2][1] Her father, Juan West, is her boxing trainer and manager.[1] She was also a contestant on the CW reality show Capture, placing 4th out of 12 teams. Currently, West is delivering her voice through social media networks, campaign, and protests across the United States in hopes to generate a following from those who believe in equal opportunities for women in sports. Some have compared her career to that of Billie Jean King.

Multi-cultural heritage

West is an athlete of multicultural heritage. Her father, Juan West, is African American and European. Her mother, Melissa, is of Mexican and Korean heritage.

Early years

West was first introduced to boxing while attending her father's boxing fights.[1] However, her father was reluctant to involve her in the sport.[1] Juan West tried to appease his 10-year-old daughter by showing her the proper boxing stance and how to punch.[1] He gave her difficult training exercises to discourage her. When she persisted, Juan took her to a gym to fight a much bigger opponent, and she lost.[1] West refused to give up boxing and continued her training.[1]

High school

She attended Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, where she started her freshmen year as Varsity Cross Country and track.[1] She participated in boxing activities outside of school.

Amateur career

West began her amateur career in 1998 at the age of 10. West fought for 8 years and won numerous tournaments and honors, including

2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, Junior Olympic championships, 2003, 2004, 2005 Silver Gloves championships, 2002 125 lb. National Golden Gloves championships. 2004 USA Championships 2005 Blue & Gold Championships 2005 PAL Championships 2006 West furthered her boxing career by turning professional just two weeks after her 18th birthday. West turned professional after being advised that women will not be allowed to compete in the 2008 Olympics.[1] Her overall amateur record was 98–10.[1]

West turns professional

Just after turning eighteen years old, West made her pro debut on February 23, 2006, at San Manuel Indian Casino in San Bernardino, California, after knocking her to the floor in round one, West won a four-round unanimous decision over former World Title holder Suzannah Warner.[2][1]

West wins the WBO World Title

On September 18, 2010, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, West won the vacant WBO Bantamweight title with a seventh-round TKO over Angel Gladney of South Carolina at 0:59 in a scheduled ten-rounder.[2] She made boxing history, as she became the first boxing champion from the Inland Empire.[2] West also became the first female to win a world title on a Golden Boy Promotions fight card.[2] West successfully defended her WBO title for three consecutive years traveling the world against Mexico, Argentina, and USA.

West wins the IFBA World Title

On October 6, 2012, at the Finish Line Sports Bar and Grill in Pomona, California, West won the vacant IFBA Junior Featherweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Christina Ruiz of Texas.[2] West successfully moved up to the next weight division to become a two-division world champion. West also became the first female to headline for Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions.

Public viewing

In 2013, West participated as a contestant with her boyfriend Matt on the first season of Capture, an American reality competition television series on The CW. West was also featured as an athlete promoting Sony's new waterproof mp3 Walkman.

Championships and accomplishments

  • 2012 IFBA International Female Boxers Association Super Bantamweight World Title[3]
  • 2011 Moreno Valley Grand Marshall

2010 Proclamation from the city of Moreno Valley.

  • 2010 WBO Female Bantamweight World Title (3 defenses)[3]
  • 2010 First-ever world champion between men and women from Inland Empire, CA.
  • 2005 National Golden Gloves Champion[3]
  • 2004 First Female B.C.R. Champion[3]
  • 2004 Silver Gloves Champion[3]
  • 2003 Silver Gloves Champion[3]
  • 2003 Junior Olympic Champion[3]
  • 2002 Junior Olympic Champion[3]

Professional boxing record

22 fights 17 wins 2 losses
By knockout 4 0
By decision 13 2
Draws 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
20 Win Christina Ruiz UD 2012-10-06 Finish Line Sports Grill, Pomona, California, USA vacant International Female Boxers Association World super bantamweight title
19 Win Claudia Andrea Lopez MD 2012-04-14 Auditorio Ernesto Rufo, Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico WBO World female bantamweight title
18 Win Jessica Villafranca UD 2011-08-20 Casino Black Pyramid, Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico WBO World female bantamweight title
17 Draw United States Ava Knight SD 2011-06-18 Sports Arena, Pico Rivera, California, USA WBO World female bantamweight title
16 Win Angel Gladney KO 2010-09-18 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, USA vacant WBO World female bantamweight title
15 Win Vannessa Guimaraes TKO 2010-06-26 Jockey Club, Lima, Peru
14 Draw Anita Christensen MD 2010-03-26 Arena Midt, Kjellerup, Denmark
13 Draw United States Ada Velez MD 2010-01-21 San Manuel Indian Casino, Highland, California, USA
12 Win Rolanda Andrews UD 2009-08-01 Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, California, USA
11 Loss United States Ava Knight UD 2008-11-18 Table Mountain Casino, Friant, California, USA
10 Win Elizabeth Cervantes KO 2008-07-23 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, USA
9 Win Elizabeth Moreno UD 2008-06-27 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, USA
8 Win Flor Verdugo TKO 2008-03-29 Gimnasio Oscar 'Tigre' García, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
7 Win Carly Batey SD 2007-08-17 Harrah's Rincon Casino, Valley Center, California, USA
6 Win Elizabeth Cervantes UD 2007-03-30 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, USA
5 Win Stella Nijhof UD 2006-11-18 Conference Center, Monterey, California, USA
4 Win Maria Contreras UD 2006-07-08 Conference Center, Monterey, California, USA
3 Win Elizabeth Cervantes UD 2006-05-19 Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, USA
2 Win Tonia Cravens UD 2006-03-25 Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, USA
1 Win Suzannah Warner UD 2006-02-23 San Manuel Indian Casino, San Bernardino, California, USA

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Women's Boxing: Kaliesha West Biography". Wban.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kaliesha West". Boxrec.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-17. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Kaliesha West Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
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