| Ava Knight | |
| Other Names: | Lady of Boxing |
| Birth Name: | Ava Michelle Knight-Salicka |
| Birth Date: | August 15, 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Chico, California, U.S. |
| Height: | 165cm[1] |
| Weight Class: | |
| Reach: | 65inches[2] |
| Style: | Boxing |
| Stance: | Orthodox |
| Years Active: | 2007–present |
| Box Win: | 20 |
| Box Kowin: | 5 |
| Box Loss: | 2 |
| Box Koloss: | 0 |
| Box Draw: | 5 |
| Mma Kowin: | 1 |
| Mma Subloss: | 1 |
| Url: | http://www.officialavaknight.com/ |
| Boxrec: | 420176 |
| Sherdog: | 345807 |
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.
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]
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]
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]
Knight has two children - a son and daughter.[14]
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Win | 20–2–5 |  Nancy Franco | UD | 6 | Dec 5, 2021 | ||
| 26 | Win | 19–2–5 |  Luna del Mar Torroba | UD | 8 | Nov 1, 2019 | ||
| 25 | Win | 18–2–5 |  Crystal Hoy | UD | 8 | May 17, 2019 | ||
| 24 | Draw | 17–2–5 | Luna del Mar Torroba | TD | 3 (8), | Feb 9, 2019 | ||
| 23 | Win | 17–2–4 | Mayela Perez | UD | 6 | Dec 7, 2018 | ||
| 22 | Win | 16–2–4 | Nancy Franco | UD | 6 | Sept 22, 2018 | ||
| 21 | Win | 15–2–4 | Leesa Daniels | UD | 6 | Jul 21, 2018 | ||
| 20 | Win | 14–2–4 | Judith Rodriguez | UD | 8 | Apr 23, 2016 | ||
| 19 | Draw | 13–2–4 | Jasseth Noriega | SD | 6 | Feb 20, 2016 | ||
| 18 | Win | 13-2-3 | Guadalupe Martínez Guzmán | UD | 10 | Nov 13, 2014 | ||
| 17 | Loss | 12-2-3 | Ibeth Zamora Silva | UD | 10 | Oct 26, 2013 | ||
| 16 | Win | 12-1-3 | Linda Soto | UD | 10 | May 11, 2013 | ||
| 15 | Win | 11-1-3 | Susana Vazquez | UD | 10 | Jan 26, 2013 | ||
| 14 | Win | 10-1-3 | Mariana Juárez | UD | 10 | Oct 13, 2012 | ||
| 13 | Win | 9-1-3 | Susana Vazquez | UD | 10 | Jun 30, 2012 | ||
| 12 | Win | 8-1-3 |  Vacharaporn Prachumchai | TKO | 10 (10), | Mar 31, 2012 | ||
| 11 | Win | 7-1-3 | Arely Mucino | KO | 2 (10), | Oct 29, 2011 | ||
| 10 | Draw | 6-1-3 | Kaliesha West | SD | 10 | Jun 18, 2011 | ||
| 9 | Win | 6-1-2 | Gloria Salas | KO | 1 (6), | Jan 14, 2011 | ||
| 8 | Loss | 5-1-2 | Ana Maria Torres | UD | 10 | Aug 29, 2009 | ||
| 7 | Win | 5-0-2 | Kaliesha West | UD | 8 | Nov 18, 2008 | ||
| 6 | Win | 4-0-2 |  Noriko Kariya | KO | 5 (6), | Jul 31, 2008 | ||
| 5 | Draw | 3-0-2 | Elena Reid | PTS | 6 | Jun 12, 2008 | ||
| 4 | Win | 3-0-1 | Sharon Gaines | UD | 6 | Feb 9, 2008 | ||
| 3 | Draw | 2-0-1 | Jodie Esquibel | MD | 4 | Jan 11, 2008 | ||
| 2 | Win | 2-0 | Katarina De la Cruz | KO | 1 (4), | Sep 20, 2007 | ||
| 1 | Win | 1-0 | Leonie Hall | UD | 4 | Aug 20, 2007 | ||
|-|Loss|align=center|1–1|Emilee King|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Bellator 238||align=center|1|align=center|2:18|Inglewood, California, United States||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Shannon Goughary|TKO (punch to the body)|Bellator 228||align=center|3|align=center|1:46|Inglewood, California, United States|