World Boxing Organization (WBO) Bantamweight Champion, Kaliesha
“Wild Wild” West (Moreno Valley, California, 14-1-3, 4 KOs) will travel to Las
Vegas, Nevada, to support the women’s championship boxing card on November
20, 2011, held at the Dallas Events Center, located within the Texas Station
Gambling Hall and Hotel. The main
event will feature Ada “The Ace” Velez (19-3-3, 6 KOs) defending her IBF Super
Bantamweight Title against Melinda “La Maravilla” Cooper (21-1, 11 KOs) in a 10
round bout. This will be a rematch
of their previous March 2011 bout in Costa Rica, which Velez won by split
decision. In addition, Stacy
“Stay-Lo” Reile (10-3, 4 KOs) will defend her IBF Featherweight title against
Dahiana Santana (27-6, 12 KOs). Undefeated, Russian heavyweight, Magomed “Mago” Abdusalamov (11-0, 11
KOs) will take on Rich “Super” Power (15-1, 11 KOs). Promising female boxer, Tatina “Lil’ Tyson” Anderson, will be
featured on the undercard.
Sampson Boxing, LLC, is
promoting the boxing card in association with Texas
Station Gambling Hall and Hotel. Also helping to bring women’s boxing
back to Las Vegas is Pablo Betancourt, owner of Executive Entertainment, LLC, who
teamed up with Sampson Boxing, LLC, and Texas Station Gambling Hall and Hotel to
make this event a reality. Like Kaliesha West’s promoter, Hector Garcia, Sampson Lewkowicz
believes that women deserve to be showcased on major boxing cards in the United
States. Team West is not directly connected
with the promotion of this fight, yet they believe it is extremely important
for women’s boxing that a large amount of people support this event. Kaliesha and Juan West will be taking a
day off from training to attend the event.
Kaliesha West said, “I’m as excited for this fight as the boxing
fans were for Pacquiao-Marquez, held last week in Las Vegas. I’ve been in the ring with both of these
women, so I know it is going to be an exciting fight for the fans and one to look
forward to. This fight has the
opportunity to prove just how skilled female boxers can be. America has been missing out on great boxing
for too long. The pool of women’s
boxing talent is much better than it was in the 90’s, because women have had
the opportunity to be mended in the amateurs, unlike earlier times when they
weren’t allowed. I hope everyone comes
out to support women’s boxing on November 20th in Las Vegas.”
Juan West, her father, trainer and manager said, “I’m excited to
travel to Las Vegas to see a female title bout in the main event. This fight features two of the best
female professional boxers in the United States, Ada Velez and Melinda Cooper. Women are taking a step closer to
gaining the recognition they deserve for all the hard work that they put in to
their sport. I’m traveling to
Vegas to support this event, and I hope others follow as well. Hopefully, this
fight is successful in gaining momentum towards women of this caliber being
showcased live on all the major television networks. I am looking forward to both women giving it their all. It is time for the world to be impressed
by the new era in women’s boxing.”
Kaliesha West was born in South Haven, Michigan, and began boxing
at the age of ten. Her family relocated to Moreno Valley, California, and
she became a decorated amateur boxing star, winning 98 amateur bouts, including
the 2003 National Golden Gloves. She began her pro career in 2006, when
she was just eighteen years old. On September 18, 2010, she won the
vacant Women’s WBO Bantamweight title on the under card of the Mosley-Mora
Golden Boy Promotions PPV, by defeating Angel Gladney, via a seventh-round
knockout. The fight took place at Staples Center in Los Angeles,
California and was held during the Mexican Bicentennial Celebration.
Kaliesha West, who is twenty-three years of age, signed with HG Garcia
Boxing in July 2011. On August 20,
2011, she successfully defended her WBO title against Jessica Villafranca,
winning by a unanimous decision. Due
to unforeseen circumstances regarding her opponent, West’s title defense on
October 29, 2011 was cancelled. No
date has been set for West’s next WBO title defense.
Tickets for the fight are $25 and $75. Tickets can be purchased at the Rewards
Center, Marianas Supermarkets, La Moda Latina or
online at Stationcasinos.com/concerts. Doors open at 2:30pm. First
bout will be at 3:00pm. Boxing
superstars including Sergio Martinez, Kaliesha West and Melissa “Huracan” Hernandez
will be on hand early to take pictures and sign autographs. The Texas Station Gambling
Hall and Hotel is located at 2101 Texas Star Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89032. The hotel phone number is (702)
631-1000.
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