Female Fight News for week of Sept. 18, 2017 Kaliesha West and more
By David A. Avila
After a few years of dormancy in female prizefighting the West Coast seems to be waking up from its slumber.
Kaliesha “Wild” West a two-division world champion from Moreno Valley, Calif. returns to the prize ring after a three year self-imposed exile.
Now 29, West (16-2-3, 4 Kos) faces Kirstie Simmons (8-2) at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The perky prizefighter with fast combinations seeks to re-establish herself quickly.
“The opportunities that are here now are night and day,” said West who won the WBO bantamweight world title in 2010 and IFBA super bantamweight title in 2012. “It is completely different these days.”
It’s only a six-round bout but it also marks the return of West and several other key bantamweights and super bantamweights that ruled those divisions six and seven years ago. West, Ana Julaton, Ava Knight and Melinda Cooper were all major forces from California and Nevada and all intend to return to the ring wars.
Sadly, it was nearly impossible for any of them to get a spot on boxing cards during their earlier reign. All were forced to fight in other countries where female boxing was taken more seriously. Because of their absence over several years it was assumed that all were retired.
A quick survey revealed that none in fact are retired and all are eager to return to the American battle as soon as possible. West included.
“Now that I am a free agent I’m able to fight anywhere,” said West to reporter Felipe Leon earlier this month. She also cites the emergence of the American Olympians into the professional ranks as a key igniter to her return.
“I’m very thankful the Olympians didn’t stay amateur,” West said. “They broke down all the doors with the promoters.”
Another returning is Julaton who has continued to stay busy but has not fought on American soil since June 2011. The former super bantamweight champion recently called out Brooklyn’s Heather “The Heat” Hardy. It could be the first step toward a West vs. East rivalry. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, West is anxious to return to the boxing ring where she has spent more than 16 years practicing its craft and honing her skills. She’s also eager to showcase her fighting abilities now that the Olympians have opened the doors to big promotions and television.
“We get a chance to show what we can do too,” said West.
Mikaela
Speaking of Olympians, the newest to enter the prize ring returns as Mikaela Mayer fights Allison Martinez on Friday Sept. 22, at the Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona. The Top Rank show will be televised on ESPN.
Mayer blitzed through her pro debut with an emphatic first round knockout of Widnelly Figueroa last month in downtown Los Angeles. Unlike the other Olympians around the world, Mayer’s knockout was not by stoppage. It was a pure knockout delivered via a devilish left hook to the liver.
The Southern California native is training in Northern California and looks to be heading toward a promising matchup in the near future with another Olympian in Ireland’s Katie Taylor. Both are competing in the lightweight division. Mayer is 27 and Taylor 31. It’s shaping up to be a mega fight in the next few years.
Female Fight News
Argentina
Macarena Ledesma (7-0) won by technical knockout of Elizabeth Britos (1-3-1) in the fourth round in their clash on Saturday Sept. 16. The lightweight affair was held in Escobar, Buenos Aires.
On Friday Sept. 22, featherweights Ana Guichapani (5-0) and Macarena Gallastegui (4-3) meet in a six round bout in Quilmes, Buenos Aires. Also, Iara Cortes (2-1) and Lilian Silva (2-4-1) meet in a four round super bantamweight match.
On Friday Sept. 22, super featherweights Karen Carabajal (13-0) and Cintia Castillo (7-0) meet in a 10 round fight for the WBC Latino title in Buenos Aires Distrito Federal.
Australia
On Saturday Sept. 23, super bantamweights April Adams (6-1-1) and Carol Earl (2-2-1) meet in an eight round fight for the vacant Australia title in Eatons Hill, Queensland.
Belarus
On Saturday Sept. 23, flyweights Elena Saveleva (1-0) and Evgeniya Zablotskaya (8-14) meet in an eight round clash in Borisov.
Belgium
On Saturday Sept. 23, flyweights SanaeJah (13-2-1) and Alexandra Lakatos (6-1-1) meet in a 10 round clash in Brussels.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jasmina Merdic (3-2) beat Sanja Ristic (0-3) by first round knockout on Sunday Sept. 10. The super middleweight contest took place in Banovici.
Brazil
On Saturday Sept. 23, super lightweights Adriana Dos Santos (1-0) and Vanessa Porto (0-0) meet in a six round bout in Sao Paulo.
Colombia
On Saturday Sept. 23, bantamweights Mayerlin Rivas (14-3-1) and Maria Miranda (16-13) meet in an eight round bout in Medellin.
Singapore
On Saturday Sept. 23, featherweights Nurshahidah Roslie (6-1) and Siriphon Chanbuala (12-4-2) meet in an eight round match for WBC Asian Council title in Singapore. Minimum weights Ai Jin (1-0) and Rungnapa Keawkrachang (13-9-1) meet in a four round bout.
South Korea
On Sunday Sept. 24, flyweights Chan Mi Lim (2-3) and Shin Young Park (2-0) fight in a four round match in Seoul.
Spain
Catalina Diaz (3-0) defeated Eloisa Rodriguez (0-3) by decision after six three-minute rounds on Saturday Sept. 16. The light flyweight match was held in Malaga, Andalucia.
On Friday Sept. 22, mini flyweights Joana Pastrana (10-1) and Judit Hachbold (4-1) meet in a 10 round bout for the vacant EBU title in Alcobendas, Madrid. Also, lightweights Miriam Gutierrez (2-0) and Aleksandra Vujovic (3-3-1) meet in a six round fight.
United Kingdom
On Friday Sept. 22, super welterweights Hannah Rankin (1-0) and Borislava Goranova (10-47-3) meet in a six round contest in Carshalton, Surrey.
USA
Marlen Esparza (3-0) won by unanimous decision against Aracely Palacios (8-8) on Saturday Sept. 16. The flyweight encounter took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also, the flyweight fight between Nicola Adams and Alexandra Vlajk was cancelled after the weighing. According to Adams camp Vlajk’s blood work was not in order.
Frederica Blanco (3-1) defeated Marcia Agripino (1-1-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Saturday Sept. 16. The bantamweight fight took place in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
Shelly Vincent (20-0) was the victor by unanimous decision over Angel Gladney (9-13-1) after eight rounds on Friday Sept. 15. The super featherweight match took place in the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Conn.
On Friday Sept. 22, lightweights Mikaela Mayer (1-0) and Allison Martinez (1-2) meet in a four round match in Tucson, Arizona.
On Saturday, Sept. 23, super bantamweights Balaussa Muzdiman (0-0) and Camry Maxie (0-0) meet in four three-minute rounds in Monroe, Louisiana.
On Saturday Sept. 23, super featherweights Jackie Trivilino (9-9-3) and Nydia Feliciano (9-8-3) meet in a six round contest in Schenectady, New York.
On Saturday Sept. 23, super featherweights Kaliesha West (16-2-3) and Kirstie Simmons (8-2) meet in a six round match in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
(Photo by Team West)