Kali Reis

Kali Reis (born August 24, 1986) is an American professional boxer. She is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBA female Light welterweight title since 2020; the IBO female light welterweight title since May 2021; the WBO female light welterweight title since November 2021; and previously the WBC female middleweight title in 2016. She also challenged Cecilia Brækhus for the undisputed female welterweight title in 2018.

Personal life[]

Kali Reis was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on August 24, 1986^{[1][2][3][5][6]} and is the youngest of five children.^[7] Reis and her siblings were raised by their mother in East Providence, Rhode Island.^[7][8] Reis is half-Native and half-Cape Verdean, descending from Cherokee, Nipmuc, and Seaconke Wampanoag tribes. ^[9] As a child, she attended and competed in powwows regularly.^{[7] [10]} The name 'Mequinonoag', was bestowed on Reis as her Native name. This name was given by her mother, the medicine woman of our Seaconke Wampanoag tribe, and means 'may feathers', or 'many talents'. ^[11] Reis expresses pride in her Native ancestry, and carries this name into the boxing ring with her for every fight. ^[12] Reis was an athletic child and often played rougher sports with the neighborhood boys.^[7] She also was involved in her school's bands/marching bands and color guard, as well as playing high school volleyball. ^[13] Since junior year of high school she was active in basketball and softball leagues. She started boxing at age 14 out of Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and was coached by a friend of her mother's, Domingo Talldog.^[7][14] Reis later went to school for criminology and also learned how to repair motorcycles at MTTI.^[8] Reis went on to continue her training at Peter Manfredo's Sr. gym to advance her boxing career.^[7] Before going pro, Reis had a successful amateur career, securing the 2007 Rocky Marciano Championship, the 2007 NYC Golden Gloves, and the 2006 New England 154 Championship.^[15]

Along with her identity as a professional boxer and work as an actor, former bouncer and security guard, mentor, motivational speaker and qualified motorcycle mechanic, Reis has become a strong advocate for Native rights. ^[16] Reis is an active supporter of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMWIG) movement, continuously striving to utilize her knowledge and status to educate those around her. ^[17] Reis combines her love of boxing and support for Native women by teaching young community members about their abilities to fight , whether it be physically or vocally, against the targeting of Native youth. ^[18] She has used her platform to elevate Native voices and educate her community, hosting various events including free self-defense classes and virtual conversations about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic.^{[19] [20]}

Professional career[]

In 2012, Kali was involved in a serious motorcycle accident sidelined her for the remainder of the boxing season. ^[14] However, she returned in 2013 and fought for the WIBA title in November of that year.^[1] Reis gained further attention in the sport after the match.^[14] On November 12, 2014 Reis won the IBA crown defeating Teresa Perozzi in Bermuda.^[1][8] Reis also coaches boxing for youth and works as a trainer.^[14] In April 2016, Reis won her first major world title in New Zealand against Maricela Cornejo for the vacant WBC World Middleweight title.

Filmography[]

Film[]

Professional boxing record[]

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
27	Win	19–7–1	Jessica Camara	SD	10	Nov 19, 2021	SNHU Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.	Retained WBA and IBO female light-welterweight titles; Won vacant WBO light-welterweight title
26	Win	18–7–1	Diana Prazak	UD	10	Aug 20, 2021	Sycuan Casino, El Cajon, California, U.S.	Retained WBA female light-welterweight title; Won vacant IBO female light-welterweight title
25	Win	17–7–1	Kandi Wyatt	UD	10	Nov 6, 2020	Marriott Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.	Won vacant WBA female light-welterweight title
24	Win	16–7–1	Patricia Juarez	UD	6	Aug 29, 2019	Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
23	Win	15–7–1	Szilvia Szabados	TKO	6 (6) 1:30	Oct 18, 2018	Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC, U.S.
22	Win	14–7–1	Paty Ramirez	UD	8	Jun 30, 2018	Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
21	Loss	13–7–1	Cecilia Brækhus	UD	10	May 5, 2018	StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.	For WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles
20	Win	13–6–1	Tiffany Woodard	UD	6	Nov 25, 2017	Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC, U.S.
19	Win	12–6–1	Sydney LeBlanc	UD	6	Oct 19, 2017	Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
18	Win	11–6–1	Ashleigh Curry	MD	6	May 11, 2017	Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
17	Loss	10–6–1	Christina Hammer	UD	10	Nov 5, 2016	Ballhaus Forum, Munich, Germany	Lost WBC female middleweight title; For WBO female middleweight title
16	Win	10–5–1	Althea Saunders	UD	8	Jul 15, 2016	Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.
15	Win	9–5–1	Maricela Cornejo	SD	10	Apr 16, 2016	The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand	Won vacant WBC female middleweight title
14	Win	8–5–1	Victoria Cisneros	TKO	1 (10) 1:31	Feb 19, 2016	Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.	Won vacant UBF female middleweight title
13	Loss	7–5–1	Hanna Gabriels	UD	10	Oct 17, 2015	Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño, Liberia, Costa Rica	For WBO female light middleweight title
12	Loss	7–4–1	Christina Hammer	UD	10	May 2, 2015	Sparkassen-Arena, Jena, Germany	For WBO female middleweight title
11	Win	7–3–1	Teresa Perozzi	TKO	3 (10) 0:51	Nov 21, 2014	Fairmont Southampton Resort, Southampton, Bermuda	Won vacant IBA female middleweight title
10	Loss	6–3–1	Mikaela Laurén	UD	8	Jul 18, 2014	Pabellon Municipal, Sedaví, Spain
9	Win	6–2–1	Marva Dash	DQ	4 (6) 1:41	Mar 3, 2014	Irish Cultural Center, Canton, Massachusetts, U.S.	Dash disqualified for excessive holding
8	Loss	5–2–1	Tori Nelson	UD	10	Nov 7, 2013	Martin's Valley Mansion, Cockeysville, Maryland, U.S.	For WIBA welterweight title
7	Win	5–1–1	Lyneisha Jefferson	PTS	4	Jun 29, 2012	Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
6	Win	4–1–1	Marva Dash	UD	4	Mar 9, 2012	Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
5	Win	3–1–1	Kate Aversa	TKO	2 (4)	Dec 9, 2011	Civic Center, West Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
4	Draw	2–1–1	Sarah Kuhn	SD	6	Oct 28, 2011	Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany, New York, U.S.
3	Loss	2–1	Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes	MD	6	Jul 9, 2010	Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes	UD	4	Mar 6, 2009	Memorial Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Betsy Rowell	TKO	2 (4), 1:16	Sep 6, 2008	The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

References[]

External links[]

Boxing record for Kali Reis from BoxRec