Ava Knight

Ava Knight
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]
StyleBoxing[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
Websitehttp://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.

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]

Personal life

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

Professional boxing record

27 fights 20 wins 2 losses
By knockout 5 0
By decision 15 2
Draws 5
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
26 Win 20–2–5 Mexico Nancy Franco UD 6 Dec 5, 2021 United States Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
26 Win 19–2–5 Colombia Luna del Mar Torroba UD 8 Nov 1, 2019 United States Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
25 Win 18–2–5 United States Crystal Hoy UD 8 May 17, 2019 United States FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
24 Draw 17–2–5 Colombia Luna del Mar Torroba TD 3 (8), 0:30 Feb 9, 2019 United States Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson City, Nevada, U.S. Fight stopped after Knight cut from accidental clash of heads
23 Win 17–2–4 Mexico Mayela Perez UD 6 Dec 7, 2018 United States Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
22 Win 16–2–4 Mexico Nancy Franco UD 6 Sept 22, 2018 United States Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
21 Win 15–2–4 United States Leesa Daniels UD 6 Jul 21, 2018 United States FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. Won ABF-USA female bantamweight title
20 Win 14–2–4 Mexico Judith Rodriguez UD 8 Apr 23, 2016 Mexico Centro de Usos Multiples, Los Mochis, Mexico
19 Draw 13–2–4 Mexico Jasseth Noriega SD 6 Feb 20, 2016 Mexico Lobo Dome, Mazatlán, Mexico
18 Win 13-2-3 Mexico Guadalupe Martínez Guzmán UD 10 Nov 13, 2014 United States Washington Hilton & Towers, Washington, D.C., U.S. Won WBC International female flyweight title
17 Loss 12-2-3 Mexico Ibeth Zamora Silva UD 10 Oct 26, 2013 Mexico Deportivo Agustín Ramos Millan, Toluca, Mexico For WBC female light flyweight title
16 Win 12-1-3 Mexico Linda Soto UD 10 May 11, 2013 Mexico Deportivo Agustín Ramos Millan, Toluca, Mexico Retained WBC Silver female flyweight title
15 Win 11-1-3 Mexico Susana Vazquez UD 10 Jan 26, 2013 Mexico Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre, Chihuahua City, Mexico Won WBC Silver female flyweight title
14 Win 10-1-3 Mexico Mariana Juárez UD 10 Oct 13, 2012 Mexico Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico
13 Win 9-1-3 Mexico Susana Vazquez UD 10 Jun 30, 2012 Mexico Auditorio Centenario, Torreón, Mexico Retained IBF female flyweight title
12 Win 8-1-3 Thailand Vacharaporn Prachumchai TKO 10 (10), 1:00 Mar 31, 2012 Mexico Gimnasio Auditorio, Los Cabos, Mexico Retained IBF female flyweight title
11 Win 7-1-3 Mexico Arely Mucino KO 2 (10), 0:45 Oct 29, 2011 Mexico Palenque de la Feria, Colima City, Mexico Won IBF female flyweight title
10 Draw 6-1-3 United States Kaliesha West SD 10 Jun 18, 2011 United States Sports Arena, Pico Rivera, California, U.S. For WBO female bantamweight title
9 Win 6-1-2 Mexico Gloria Salas KO 1 (6), 1:55 Jan 14, 2011 United States Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio. California, U.S.
8 Loss 5-1-2 Mexico Ana Maria Torres UD 10 Aug 29, 2009 Mexico Ciudad Deportiva, Mexicali, Mexico For WBC female super flyweight title
7 Win 5-0-2 United States Kaliesha West UD 8 Nov 18, 2008 United States Table Mountain Casino, Friant, California, U.S. Won IFBA North American bantamweight title
6 Win 4-0-2 Canada Noriko Kariya KO 5 (6), 0:20 Jul 31, 2008 United States Schuetzen Park, North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S.
5 Draw 3-0-2 United States Elena Reid PTS 6 Jun 12, 2008 United States Mohegan Sun Casino, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
4 Win 3-0-1 United States Sharon Gaines UD 6 Feb 9, 2008 United States Aquarius Hotel, Laughlin, Nevada, U.S.
3 Draw 2-0-1 United States Jodie Esquibel MD 4 Jan 11, 2008 United States Isleta Casino & Resort, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
2 Win 2-0 United States Katarina De la Cruz KO 1 (4), 1:19 Sep 20, 2007 United States Sagebrush Cantina, Calabasas, California, U.S.
1 Win 1-0 United States Leonie Hall UD 4 Aug 20, 2007 United States Colusa Casino Resort, Colusa, California, U.S.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
2 matches 1 win 1 loss
By knockout 1 0
By submission 0 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–1 Emilee King Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 238 January 25, 2020 1 2:18 Inglewood, California, United States
Win 1–0 Shannon Goughary TKO (punch to the body) Bellator 228 September 28, 2019 3 1:46 Inglewood, California, United States

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Boxrec profile of Ava Knight". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  2. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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.