Ava Knight

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.

Ava Knight
Knight in 2018
Born	Ava Michelle Knight-Salicka[1] (1988-08-15) August 15, 1988 (age 36)[2] Chico, California, U.S.[1]
Other names	Lady of Boxing[1]
Height	165 cm (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Division	Light-flyweight Flyweight Super-flyweight Bantamweight
Reach	65.0 in (165 cm)[2]
Style	Boxing[2]
Years active	2007–present
Professional boxing record
Total	27
Wins	20
By knockout	5
Losses	2
By knockout	0
Draws	5
Mixed martial arts record
Total	2
Wins	1
By knockout	1
Losses	1
By submission	1
Other information
Website	http://www.officialavaknight.com/
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

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 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
27	Win	20–2–5	Nancy Franco	UD	6	Dec 5, 2021	Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
26	Win	19–2–5	Luna del Mar Torroba	UD	8	Nov 1, 2019	Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
25	Win	18–2–5	Crystal Hoy	UD	8	May 17, 2019	FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
24	Draw	17–2–5	Luna del Mar Torroba	TD	3 (8), 0:30	Feb 9, 2019	Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California, U.S.	Fight stopped after Knight cut from accidental clash of heads
23	Win	17–2–4	Mayela Perez	UD	6	Dec 7, 2018	Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
22	Win	16–2–4	Nancy Franco	UD	6	Sept 22, 2018	Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Sunrise Manor, Nevada, U.S.
21	Win	15–2–4	Leesa Daniels	UD	6	Jul 21, 2018	FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.	Won vacant ABF USA bantamweight title
20	Win	14–2–4	Judith Rodriguez	UD	8	Apr 23, 2016	Centro de Usos Multiples, Los Mochis, Mexico
19	Draw	13–2–4	Jasseth Noriega	SD	6	Feb 20, 2016	Lobodome, Mazatlán, Mexico
18	Win	13-2-3	Guadalupe Martínez Guzmán	UD	10	Nov 13, 2014	Washington Hilton & Towers, Washington, D.C., U.S.	Won vacant WBC International flyweight title
17	Loss	12-2-3	Ibeth Zamora Silva	UD	10	Oct 26, 2013	Deportivo Agustín Ramos Millan, Toluca, Mexico	For WBC light-flyweight title
16	Win	12-1-3	Linda Soto	UD	10	May 11, 2013	Deportivo Agustín Ramos Millan, Toluca, Mexico	Retained WBC Silver flyweight title
15	Win	11-1-3	Susana Vazquez	UD	10	Jan 26, 2013	Gimnasio Manuel Bernardo Aguirre, Chihuahua City, Mexico	Won vacant WBC Silver flyweight title
14	Win	10-1-3	Mariana Juárez	UD	10	Oct 13, 2012	Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico	Won vacant WBC Diamond flyweight title
13	Win	9-1-3	Susana Vazquez	UD	10	Jun 30, 2012	Auditorio Centenario, Torreón, Mexico	Retained IBF flyweight title
12	Win	8-1-3	Vacharaporn Prachumchai	TKO	10 (10), 1:00	Mar 31, 2012	Gimnasio Auditorio, Los Cabos, Mexico	Retained IBF flyweight title
11	Win	7-1-3	Arely Muciño	KO	2 (10), 0:45	Oct 29, 2011	Palenque de la Feria, Colima, Mexico	Won IBF flyweight title
10	Draw	6-1-3	Kaliesha West	SD	10	Jun 18, 2011	Sports Arena, Pico Rivera, California, U.S.	For WBO bantamweight title
9	Win	6-1-2	Gloria Salas	KO	1 (6), 1:55	Jan 14, 2011	Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
8	Loss	5-1-2	Ana María Torres	UD	10	Aug 29, 2009	Ciudad Deportiva, Mexicali, Mexico	For WBC super-flyweight title
7	Win	5-0-2	Kaliesha West	UD	8	Nov 18, 2008	Table Mountain Casino, Friant, California, U.S.
6	Win	4-0-2	Noriko Kariya	KO	5 (6), 0:20	Jul 31, 2008	Schuetzen Park, North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S.
5	Draw	3-0-2	Elena Reid	PTS	6	Jun 12, 2008	Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
4	Win	3-0-1	Sharon Gaines	UD	6	Feb 9, 2008	Aquarius Casino Resort, Laughlin, Nevada, U.S.
3	Draw	2-0-1	Jodie Esquibel	MD	4	Jan 11, 2008	Isleta Casino & Resort, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
2	Win	2-0	Katarina De la Cruz	KO	1 (4)	Sep 20, 2007	Sagebrush Cantina, Calabasas, California, U.S.
1	Win	1-0	Leonie Hall	UD	4	Aug 30, 2007	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

Personal life

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

See also

• List of female boxers
• List of female mixed martial artists