Kaliesha West

Kaliesha West is an athlete of multi-cultural heritage. Her father, Juan West, is African American and European. Her mother, Melissa, is of Mexican and Korean heritage.

West was first introduced to boxing while attending her father's boxing fights.[1] However, her father was reluctant to involve her in the sport.[1] Juan West tried to appease his 10-year-old daughter by showing her the proper boxing stance and how to punch.[1] He gave her difficult training exercises to discourage her. When she persisted, Juan took her to a gym to fight a much bigger opponent, and she lost.[1] Kaliesha refused to give up boxing and continued her training.[1]

She attended Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, where she started freshmen year as Varsity Cross Country and track.[1] She participated in boxing activities outside of school.

Kaliesh West began her amateur career in 1998 at the age of 10. West fought for 8 years and won numerous tournaments and honors, including

2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, Junior Olympic championships, 2003, 2004, 2005 Silver Gloves championships, 2002 125 lb. National Golden Gloves championships. 2004 USA Championships 2005 Blue & Gold Championships 2005 PAL Championships 2006 Kaliesha West furthered her boxing career by turning professional just 2 weeks after her 18th birthday. West turned professional after being advised that Women will not be allowed to compete in the 2008 Olympics.

[1] Her overall amateur record was 98–10.[1]

Just after turning eighteen years old, West made her pro debut on February 23, 2006 at San Manuel Indian Casino in San Bernardino, California, after knocking her to the floor in round one, West won a four-round unanimous decision over former World Title holder Suzannah Warner.[2][1]

On September 18, 2010, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Kaliesha West won the vacant WBO Bantamweight title with a seventh-round TKO over Angel Gladney of South Carolina at 0:59 in a scheduled ten-rounder.[2] She made boxing history, as she became the first boxing champion from the Inland Empire.[2] West also became the first female to win a world title on a Golden Boy Promotions fight card.[4] West successfully defended her WBO title for three consecutive years traveling the world against Mexico, Argentina, and USA.

On October 6, 2012, at the Finish Line Sports Bar and Grill in Pomona, California, Kaliesha West won the vacant IFBA Junior Featherweight title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Christina Ruiz of Texas.[2] Kaliesha successfully moved up to the next weight division to become a two division world champion. West also became the first female to headline for Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions.

In 2013, Kaliesha participated as a contestant with her friend Matt on the first season of Capture, an American reality competition television series on The CW loosely inspired by The Hunger Games. West was also featured as an athlete promoting Sony's new waterproof mp3 Walkman.

• 2012 IFBA International Female Boxers Association Super Bantamweight World Title[5]
• 2011 Moreno Valley Grand Marshall

2010 Proclamation from the city of Moreno Valley.

• 2010 WBO Female Bantamweight World Title (3 defenses)[5]
• 2010 First ever world champion between men and women from Inland Empire, CA.
• 2005 National Golden Gloves Champion[5]
• 2004 First Female B.C.R. Champion[5]
• 2004 Silver Gloves Champion[5]
• 2003 Silver Gloves Champion[5]
• 2003 Junior Olympic Champion[5]
• 2002 Junior Olympic Champion[5]

• Kaliesha West Awakening Profile
• Boxing record for Kaliesha West from BoxRec