West will contend for the vacant IFBA Super Bantamweight title in the main event of legendary Sugar Shane Mosley’s fight card in Pomona, California.

MORENO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. – On Saturday night, October 6,2012, World Boxing Organization (WBO)Bantamweight Champion, Kaliesha “Wild Wild” West (Moreno Valley, California,15-1-3, 4 KOs), will move up in weight when she faces Christina Ruiz (SanAntonio, Texas, 6-4-2, 4 KOs) at the Finish Line Sports Grill in Pomona,California. West-Ruiz will be a 10-round bout for the vacant International Female Boxing Association (IFBA) Super Bantamweight Title.

The contest will be featured as the main event of the boxing card entitled,“KO Cancer – Boxing For The Cure,” presented by Sugar Shane MosleyPromotions, in association with Diamond’s Love Foundation and The Susan G.Komen Foundation. The event was created to help the fight against cancer and toincrease cancer awareness. West-Cruz will receive coverage from severaloutlets, including Verizon’s FOX International television channel, MundoFox, RingsideTV, and Fox Sports Radio. Some notable women’s boxing match-ups featured on the undercard include Holly “Lil Bear” Lawson vs. Tammie “The Tasmanian Devil” Johnson and Katarina “Guantes” De La Cruz vs. Blanca Raymundo.

Kaliesha West is happy about getting an opportunity to fightso close to her hometown. She said, “I am going to have a lot of friends and family come out for my fight. My last few fights have been in Mexico, so it feels great to come home. I’m excited to make history as being the first world titlefight to be featured on Sugar Shane Mosley’s professional card. Women do belongin the sport, fighting on the same cards with the men.”

Juan West, Kaliesha’s father, manager, and trainer, sharedhis thoughts. “This will be Kaliesha’s first main event in the United States onan all-boxing card. Kaliesha’s supporters will be able to attend the openworkout at her hometown high school to see her practice, and then come to fightnight on October 6th to see her perform.”

Kaliesha West discussed her progress in training camp. “Camphas been going well. I’m training hard, working on my endurance, and hope toput on a great performance.” Coach West added, “Kaliesha is right on scheduleand is training hard. I can see her drive and determination to make a statementin this fight.”

Kaliesha talked about her opponent and said, “Christina Ruizis an aggressive fighter that fights with passion and determination. I have theutmost respect for her because of her accomplishments in the sport of boxingand I will not take this fight lightly.”

Juan West added, “I’ve followed Christina Ruiz for years andwas really impressed by her knockout of Emily Klinefelter. We respect herpunching power. Kaliesha has speed and Ruiz has power, and typically, speed vs.power battles are exciting for the fans. Kaliesha will have to box impressivelyon the inside, put together her combinations, and show professional poise. OnOctober 6, she who wants it most will take home the IFBA Title belt.”

Following the success of the women boxers in the 2012Olympic games, Kaliesha West wants to carry on the legacy of great femalefighters.  She said, “MarlenEsparza, Claressa Shields, and Katy Taylor epitomized what women’s boxing isall about. The women’s boxing events in London sold out and were extremelyexciting to watch. Claressa was able to dominate, even though she had to moveup in weight in order to compete. She’s a great ambassador for the sport. Iadmired her will power to succeed and win the gold.”

Juan West thought that the 2012 Olympics demonstrated thehigh skill level now found in women’s boxing. “The skills displayed in theOlympics are the result of these women having solid amateur boxing backgrounds.In London, the women’s boxers captured the hearts of the Olympic fans and theirperformance hopefully opened doors for other amateurs and current pros in thesport.”

On September 20, 2012, at 3:45pm, Kaliesha West will hold anopen workout at Canyon Springs High School. The workout will take place in theschool gymnasium and is open to the media and general public. Canyon SpringsHigh School is located at 23100 Cougar Canyon Drive, Moreno Valley, CA, 92557.Kaliesha West would like to thank LaDonna Jempson and the MVHCC for helpingcoordinate the open workout. West would also like to thank her Adidas sponsorshipfor their support in helping Team West adequately prepare for this fight.

Weigh-ins for Kaliesha’sfight will take place on Friday night, October 5, 2012, at 5:30pm, during theintermission of the KO Cancer Amateur Show, located at the Finish Line SportsGrill. On Kaliesha’s fight night, Saturday night, October 6, 2012, the doors willopen at the Finish Line Sports Grill for boxing festivities at 2pm, with thefirst fight starting at 6pm. Ticket prices are $100 (VIP) and $50. Tickets for Kaliesha’sfight will be available for purchaseonline by visiting http://knockingoutcancer.eventbrite.com or by callingDiamond’s Love Foundation at (909) 622 9092. The Finish Line Sports Grill islocated at 2201 N. White Ave., Pomona, CA, 91767.

Similarlyto her father, Kaliesha West was born in South Haven, Michigan. At the age offive, she relocated with her family to Moreno Valley, California, and she beganboxing five years later. In Southern California, she was a decorated amateurboxing star. She competed as a member of the USA Boxing Program, winning 98amateur bouts, and several championships, including the 2003 National GoldenGloves. West opted to turn pro in 2006 when she received the news that women’sboxing was not going to be showcased during the 2008 Olympic games.

KalieshaWest began her pro career in 2006, when she was just eighteen years old. OnSeptember 18, 2010, at age twenty-two, she won the vacant Women’s WBOBantamweight title on the under card of the Mosley-Mora Golden Boy PromotionsPPV by defeating Angel Gladney via a seventh-round knockout. The fight tookplace at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, and was held during theMexican Bicentennial Celebration. West, now twenty-four, last fought on April14, 2012, when she defeated Claudia Lopez by unanimous decision, in Rosarito,Mexico.

Forthe latest updates on Kaliesha West, “Like” her official Facebook fan page athttp://www.facebook.com/OfficialKalieshaWest

FollowKaliesha West on Twitter: @kwildwildwest or http://www.twitter.com/kwildwildwest

For media inquiries or any further information, contactLorin Chvotkin of Team West by e-mail at Lbchoyas@yahoo.com or by phone at +1(240) 498 1478. For press inquiries or interview requests for promoter ShaneMosley, contact his publicist, Shay Brown, at +1 (901) 628 8011 or by email at press@royalkingdomagency.com.

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Note:pictures are courtesy of Team West