(SEPT 6) On October 6, 2012,
current WBO Bantamweight Champion, Kaliesha “Wild Wild” West, of
Moreno Valley, California, 15-1-3, 4 KOs), will move up in
weight when she faces Christina Ruiz, of San Antonio, Texas,
6-4-2, 4 KOs) at the Finish Line Sports Grill in Pomona,
California. West-Ruiz will be a 10-round bout for the vacant
IFBA Super Bantamweight world Title.
The world title bout will be featured as the main event of the
boxing card entitled, “KO Cancer - Boxing For The Cure,”
presented by Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions, in association with
Diamond’s Love Foundation and The Susan G. Komen Foundation.
The event was created to help the
fight against cancer and to increase cancer awareness. West-Ruiz
will receive coverage from several outlets, including Verizon’s
FOX International television channel, MundoFox, Ringside TV, and
Fox Sports Radio. Some notable women's boxing match-ups featured
on the undercard include Holly "Lil' Bear" Lawson vs. Tammie
"The Tasmanian Devil" Johnson and Katarina "Guantes" De La Cruz
vs. Blanca Reymundo.
West is happy about getting an opportunity to fight so close to
her hometown. She said, “I am going to have a lot of friends and
family come out for my fight. My last few fights have been in
Mexico, so it feels great to come home. I’m excited to make
history as being the first world title fight to be featured on
Sugar Shane Mosley’s professional card. Women do belong in the
sport, fighting on the same cards with the men.”
Juan West, Kaliesha’s father,
manager, and trainer, shared his thoughts. “This will be
Kaliesha’s first main event in the United States on an
all-boxing card. Kaliesha’s supporters will be able to attend
the open workout at her hometown high school to see her
practice, and then come to fight night on October 6th to see her
perform.”
Kaliesha West discussed her progress in training camp. “Camp has
been going well. I’m training hard, working on my endurance, and
hope to put on a great performance.” Coach West added, “Kaliesha
is right on schedule and is training hard. I can see her drive
and determination to make a statement in this fight.”
Kaliesha talked about her opponent and said, “Christina Ruiz is
an aggressive fighter that fights with passion and
determination. I have the utmost respect for her because of her
accomplishments in the sport of boxing and I will not take this
fight lightly.”
Christina Ruiz - Photo by Erik Esteban Stipnieks
Coach West added, “I’ve followed
Christina Ruiz for years and was really impressed by her
knockout of Emily Klinefelter. We respect her punching power.
Kaliesha has speed and Ruiz has power, and typically, speed vs.
power battles are exciting for the fans. Kaliesha will have to
box impressively on the inside, put together her combinations,
and show professional poise. On October 6, she who wants it most
will take home the IFBA Title belt.”
Following the success of the women boxers in the 2012 Olympic
games, Kaliesha West wants to carry on the legacy of great
female fighters. She said, “Marlen Esparza, Claressa Shields,
and Katy Taylor epitomized what women’s boxing is all about. The
women’s boxing events in London sold out and were extremely
exciting to watch. Claressa was able to dominate, even though
she had to move up in weight in order to compete. She’s a great
ambassador for the sport. I admired her will power to succeed
and win the gold.”
Juan West believes that the 2012
Olympics demonstrated the high skill level now found in women’s
boxing. “The skills displayed in the Olympics are the result of
these women having solid amateur boxing backgrounds. In London,
the women’s boxers captured the hearts of the Olympic fans and
their performance hopefully opened doors for other amateurs and
current pros in the sport.”
On September 20, 2012, at 3:45pm, Kaliesha West will hold an
open workout at Canyon Springs High School. The workout will
take place in the school gymnasium and is open to the media and
general public. Canyon Springs High School is located at 23100
Cougar Canyon Drive, Moreno Valley, CA, 92557. Kaliesha West
would like to thank LaDonna Jempson and the MVHCC for helping
coordinate the open workout. West would also like to thank her
Adidas sponsorship for their support in helping Team West
adequately prepare for this fight.
Weigh-ins for Kaliesha’s fight will take place on Friday night,
October 5, 2012, at 5:30pm, during the intermission of the KO
Cancer Amateur Show, located at the Finish Line Sports Grill. On
Kaliesha’s fight night, Saturday night, October 6, 2012, the
doors will open at the Finish Line Sports Grill for boxing
festivities at 2pm, with the first fight starting at 6pm. Ticket
prices are $100 (VIP) and $50. Tickets for Kaliesha’s fight will
be available for purchase online by visiting http://knockingoutcancer.eventbrite.com
or by calling Diamond’s Love Foundation at (909) 622 9092. The
Finish Line Sports Grill is located at 2201 N. White Ave.,
Pomona, CA, 91767.
Similarly to her father, Kaliesha West was born in South Haven,
Michigan. At the age of five, she relocated with her family to
Moreno Valley, California, and she began boxing five years
later. In Southern California, she was a decorated amateur
boxing star. She competed as a member of the USA Boxing Program,
winning 98 amateur bouts, and several championships, including
the 2003 National Golden Gloves. West opted to turn pro in 2006
when she received the news that women’s boxing was not going to
be showcased during the 2008 Olympic games.
Kaliesha West began her pro career in 2006, when she was just
eighteen years old. On September 18, 2010, at age twenty-two,
she won the vacant Women’s WBO Bantamweight title on the under
card of the Mosley-Mora Golden Boy Promotions PPV by defeating
Angel Gladney via a seventh-round knockout. The fight took place
at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, and was held
during the Mexican Bicentennial Celebration. West, now
twenty-four, last fought on April 14, 2012, when she defeated
Claudia Lopez by unanimous decision, in Rosarito, Mexico.
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