Ava Knight

Last updated
Ava Knight
Ava Knight.jpg
Knight in 2018
BornAva Michelle Knight-Salicka [1]
(1988-08-15) August 15, 1988 (age 36) [2]
Chico, California, U.S. [1]
Other namesLady of Boxing [1]
Height165 cm (5 ft 5 in) [1]
Division
Reach65.0 in (165 cm) [2]
Style Boxing [2]
Years active2007–present
Professional boxing record
Total27
Wins20
By knockout5
Losses2
By knockout0
Draws5
Mixed martial arts record
Total2
Wins1
By knockout1
Losses1
By submission1
Other information
Website http://www.officialavaknight.com/
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Ava Michelle Knight-Salicka (born August 15, 1988) is an American professional boxer. She held the IBF female flyweight title from 2011 to 2012 and has challenged for world titles in three weight divisions; the WBC female super flyweight title in 2009; the WBO female bantamweight title in 2011; and the WBC female light flyweight title in 2013.

Contents

Boxing career

A professional boxer since 2007, Knight challenged Ana María Torres for the WBC female super-flyweight World title on 29 August 2009 at Ciudad Deportiva, Mexicali, Mexico, losing out by unanimous decision. [3] [4]

Her next bid for a World title took place on 18 June 2011, when she faced WBO female bantamweight champion Kaliesha West at Sports Arena, Pico Rivera, California, USA. The fight ended in a split draw with one judge scoring it 96-94 for West, another 96-94 for Knight and the third ruling it a 95-95 tie. [5] [6]

Knight finally won a World title at the third attempt, picking up the IBF female flyweight belt by knocking out defending champion Arely Muciño in round two of their contest at Palenque de la Feria, Colima, Mexico, on 29 October 2011. [7] [8]

She successfully defended her title twice before claiming the WBC flyweight Diamond belt on 13 October 2012, with a unanimous decision victory over Mariana Juárez at Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico. [9] [10]

On 26 October 2013, Knight attempted to wrest the WBC female light-flyweight World crown from Ibeth Zamora Silva but lost the fight at Deportivo Agustín Ramos Millan, Toluca, Mexico, by unanimous decision. [11] [12]

In March 2024, it was revealed Knight had agreed to join the second season of boxing's first squad-based format, Team Combat League (TCL), competing for the Las Vegas Hustle. [13] [14] She made her debut on 5 April 2024, securing a unanimous decision win over Rosalinda Rodriguez in Miami, Florida, USA. [15]

Mixed martial arts career

Knight made her MMA debut against Shannon Goughary at Bellator 228 on September 28, 2019. [16] She won the fight by TKO in the third round.

Knight faced Emilee King at Bellator 238 on January 25, 2020. [17] She lost the bout via first round submission. [18]

WWE Tough Enough

Knight was one of 40 finalists for the 2015 season of World Wrestling Entertainment's Tough Enough, a reality television series in which aspiring pro-wrestlers compete for a spot on the organisation's roster. She was among the 10 people eliminated on the first day of the in-person tryouts held in Orlando, Florida, USA. [19] [20] [21] [22]

Professional boxing record

27 fights20 wins2 losses
By knockout50
By decision152
Draws5
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
27Win20–2–5 Nancy Franco UD6Dec 5, 2021 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
26Win19–2–5Luna del Mar TorrobaUD8Nov 1, 2019Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
25Win18–2–5Crystal HoyUD8May 17, 2019FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
24Draw17–2–5Luna del Mar TorrobaTD3 (8), 0:30Feb 9, 2019 Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S.Fight stopped after Knight cut from accidental clash of heads
23Win17–2–4Mayela PerezUD6Dec 7, 2018Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
22Win16–2–4Nancy FrancoUD6Sept 22, 2018 Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
21Win15–2–4Leesa DanielsUD6Jul 21, 2018 FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.Won vacant ABF USA bantamweight title
20Win14–2–4Judith RodriguezUD8Apr 23, 2016Centro de Usos Multiples, Los Mochis, Mexico
19Draw13–2–4Jasseth NoriegaSD6Feb 20, 2016 Lobodome, Mazatlán, Mexico
18Win13-2-3 Guadalupe Martínez Guzmán UD10Nov 13, 2014Washington Hilton & Towers, Washington, D.C., U.S.Won vacant WBC International flyweight title
17Loss12-2-3 Ibeth Zamora Silva UD10Oct 26, 2013Deportivo Agustín Ramos Millan, Toluca, MexicoFor WBC light-flyweight title
16Win12-1-3Linda SotoUD10May 11, 2013Deportivo Agustín Ramos Millan, Toluca, MexicoRetained WBC Silver flyweight title
15Win11-1-3Susana VazquezUD10Jan 26, 2013 Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre, Chihuahua City, MexicoWon vacant WBC Silver flyweight title
14Win10-1-3 Mariana Juárez UD10Oct 13, 2012 Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, MexicoWon vacant WBC Diamond flyweight title
13Win9-1-3Susana VazquezUD10Jun 30, 2012Auditorio Centenario, Torreón, MexicoRetained IBF flyweight title
12Win8-1-3Vacharaporn PrachumchaiTKO10 (10), 1:00Mar 31, 2012Gimnasio Auditorio, Los Cabos, MexicoRetained IBF flyweight title
11Win7-1-3 Arely Muciño KO2 (10), 0:45Oct 29, 2011Palenque de la Feria, Colima, MexicoWon IBF flyweight title
10Draw6-1-3 Kaliesha West SD10Jun 18, 2011 Sports Arena, Pico Rivera, California, U.S.For WBO bantamweight title
9Win6-1-2Gloria SalasKO1 (6), 1:55Jan 14, 2011 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
8Loss5-1-2 Ana María Torres UD10Aug 29, 2009Ciudad Deportiva, Mexicali, MexicoFor WBC super-flyweight title
7Win5-0-2 Kaliesha West UD8Nov 18, 2008Table Mountain Casino, Friant, California, U.S.
6Win4-0-2 Noriko Kariya KO5 (6), 0:20Jul 31, 2008 Schuetzen Park, North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S.
5Draw3-0-2 Elena Reid PTS6Jun 12, 2008 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
4Win3-0-1Sharon GainesUD6Feb 9, 2008 Aquarius Casino Resort, Laughlin, Nevada, U.S.
3Draw2-0-1 Jodie Esquibel MD4Jan 11, 2008Isleta Casino & Resort, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
2Win2-0Katarina De la CruzKO1 (4)Sep 20, 2007Sagebrush Cantina, Calabasas, California, U.S.
1Win1-0Leonie HallUD4Aug 30, 2007Colusa Casino Resort, Colusa, California, U.S.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
2 matches1 win1 loss
By knockout10
By submission01
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss1–1Emilee KingSubmission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 238 January 25, 202012:18 Inglewood, California, United States
Win1–0Shannon GougharyTKO (punch to the body) Bellator 228 September 28, 201931:46 Inglewood, California, United States

Personal life

Knight has two children – a son and a daughter. [14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Boxrec profile of Ava Knight". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ava Knight". tapology.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  3. "Knight's first title bid ends in loss by decision in Mexicali". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  4. "Ana Maria Torres vs Ava Knight". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  5. "Kaliesha West Retains Title in Draw with Ava Knight". The Sweet Science. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  6. "Kaliesha West vs Ava Knight". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  7. "Ava Knight on Her Shock KO of Arely Mucino, IBF Title Win". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  8. "Arely Mucino vs Ava Knight". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  9. "Ava Knight Shocks Mariana Juarez, Wins WBC Title". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  10. "Mariana Juarez vs Ava Knight". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  11. "Ava Knight Falls Short Versus Ibeth Zamora In Mexico". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  12. "Ibeth Zamora Silva vs Ava Knight". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  13. "Francis Ngannou's coach announces the new season of Team Combat League". Mancunian Matters. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  14. 1 2 "One on One Interview - A Few Minutes With Ava Knight". womenofboxing.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  15. "Rosalinda Rodriguez vs Ava Knight". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  16. "Former WBC, IBF boxing champion Ava Knight signs with Bellator, debuts next month". August 10, 2019.
  17. Danny Segura (January 9, 2020). "Former boxing champion Ava Knight returns at Bellator 238". mmajunkie.com.
  18. "Bellator 238 results: Live 'Cyborg vs Budd' streaming play-by-play updates". MMAMania.com. January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  19. "Ava Knight Eliminated from WWE "Tough Enough" Tryouts". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  20. "Catching Up With Ava Knight". The Boxing Voice. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  21. "AVA KNIGHT-SALICKA NAMED WWE TOUGH ENOUGH CONTESTANT". Inside the Ropes. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  22. "Several Tough Enough Contestants Eliminated Already, Major Name Gone". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
New title WBC Diamond
flyweight champion

October 13, 2012 – 2013
Vacated
Vacant
WBC Silver
flyweight champion

January 26, 2013 – 2013
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Raja Amasheh
Vacant
Title last held by
Yessica Chávez
WBC International
flyweight champion

November 13, 2014 – 2015
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Yessica Chávez
New titleABF USA
bantamweight champion

July 21, 2018 – 2019
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Shelly Barnett
World boxing titles
Preceded by IBF flyweight champion
October 29, 2011 – 2014
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Gabriela Bouvier