Kali Reis
Name: Kali Reis
Alias: KO Mequinonoag
Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Birthplace: USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 173cm
Promoter: Record
Pro Boxer: Record
Profile
Name: Kali Reis
Nickname: "KO Mequinonoag"
Born: August 24, 1986
Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Nationality: American
Height: 173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Stance: Orthodox
Divisions: Welterweight, Super Welterweight, Middleweight, Super Lightweight
Professional Record: 19-7-1 (5 KOs)
Professional Boxing Career
Kali Reis is an American former professional boxer and multiple-time world champion from Providence, Rhode Island.
Known by the nickname "KO Mequinonoag," Reis competed professionally across several weight divisions and captured world championships at middleweight and super lightweight.
During her career, Reis won championships sanctioned by the Universal Boxing Federation (UBF), World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organization (WBO), International Boxing Organization (IBO) and International Boxing Association (IBA).
Reis compiled a professional record of 19 victories, 7 defeats and 1 draw, with 5 victories by knockout.
Early Professional Career
Reis began her professional boxing career in 2008.
Her career eventually took her throughout the United States and internationally, competing in countries including Germany, Costa Rica, Bermuda and New Zealand.
As she progressed through the professional ranks, Reis competed against a number of prominent champions and contenders and became known for accepting significant fights both at home and abroad.
IBA World Middleweight Championship
On November 21, 2014, Reis faced Teresa Perozzi at the Fairmont Southampton Resort in Bermuda for the vacant IBA female middleweight championship.
Reis stopped Perozzi in the third round to capture the championship.
The victory marked one of the first major world championships of Reis' professional career.
World Championship Challenges
On May 2, 2015, Reis traveled to Jena, Germany, to challenge Christina Hammer for the WBO female middleweight championship.
Reis went the full ten-round championship distance before losing by unanimous decision.
Later that year, on October 17, 2015, Reis challenged Hanna Gabriels for the WBO female super welterweight championship in Liberia, Costa Rica.
Gabriels retained the championship by unanimous decision.
These international championship opportunities established Reis as an experienced world-level competitor prior to her major championship breakthrough in 2016.
UBF World Middleweight Championship
On February 19, 2016, Reis faced Victoria Cisneros at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island, for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation World Female Middleweight Championship.
Reis stopped Cisneros by technical knockout in the first round to become UBF World Female Middleweight Champion.
The victory made Reis one of the prominent women's world champions associated with the Universal Boxing Federation.
WBC World Middleweight Championship
Less than two months after capturing the UBF championship, Reis received another major world championship opportunity.
On April 16, 2016, she faced Maricela Cornejo at The Trusts Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, for the vacant WBC female middleweight championship.
Reis defeated Cornejo by split decision over ten rounds to become WBC World Female Middleweight Champion.
The victory established Reis as a world champion with multiple sanctioning organizations during the same period of her career.
Christina Hammer Rematch
On November 5, 2016, Reis again faced Christina Hammer, this time with both the WBC and WBO female middleweight championships at stake.
Hammer won the ten-round contest by unanimous decision.
Cecilia Braekhus Fight and HBO History
One of the most historically significant fights of Reis' career came on May 5, 2018, when she challenged undefeated undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Braekhus entered the contest holding the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and IBO welterweight championships.
The bout became the first women's boxing match televised by HBO during the network's 45-year history of televising boxing.
Reis gave Braekhus a competitive fight and scored a knockdown before Braekhus ultimately won the contest by unanimous decision.
The historic HBO appearance placed Reis and Braekhus among the fighters who helped expand television exposure for women's professional boxing.
Super Lightweight World Championships
Reis later rebuilt her career at super lightweight.
On November 6, 2020, she defeated Kandi Wyatt by unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBA female super lightweight championship.
She subsequently faced former world champion Diana Prazak on August 20, 2021.
Reis defeated Prazak by majority decision, retaining her WBA championship and adding the IBO female super lightweight championship.
WBA, WBO and IBO Unified Champion
On November 19, 2021, Reis faced Canadian contender Jessica Camara at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.
The bout was part of a tournament designed to move toward an undisputed champion at super lightweight.
Reis defeated Camara by split decision over ten rounds.
With the victory, Reis added the vacant WBO female super lightweight championship to her WBA and IBO titles, becoming a unified WBA, WBO and IBO Super Lightweight World Champion.
The victory improved her professional record to 19-7-1.
Major Championships
Middleweight
- IBA World Female Middleweight Championship
- Universal Boxing Federation World Female Middleweight Championship
- WBC World Female Middleweight Championship
Super Lightweight
- WBA World Female Super Lightweight Championship
- WBO World Female Super Lightweight Championship
- IBO World Female Super Lightweight Championship
Notable Championship Fights
- Defeated Teresa Perozzi - IBA World Female Middleweight Championship
- Challenged Christina Hammer - WBO World Female Middleweight Championship
- Challenged Hanna Gabriels - WBO World Female Super Welterweight Championship
- Defeated Victoria Cisneros - UBF World Female Middleweight Championship
- Defeated Maricela Cornejo - WBC World Female Middleweight Championship
- Challenged Christina Hammer - WBC and WBO World Female Middleweight Championships
- Challenged Cecilia Braekhus - Undisputed World Welterweight Championship
- Defeated Kandi Wyatt - WBA World Female Super Lightweight Championship
- Defeated Diana Prazak - WBA and IBO World Female Super Lightweight Championships
- Defeated Jessica Camara - WBA, WBO and IBO World Female Super Lightweight Championships
Historic HBO Appearance
Reis' May 5, 2018 bout against Cecilia Braekhus was historically significant for women's boxing.
The contest was the first women's boxing match shown by HBO during the network's 45-year history of televising professional boxing.
Although Braekhus won by unanimous decision, Reis scored a knockdown and delivered a competitive performance against the undisputed champion.
The bout helped increase the visibility of elite women's professional boxing on major American television.
Native American Heritage and Advocacy
Reis has spoken publicly about her Native American heritage and has incorporated elements of that heritage into her boxing identity and ring entrances.
Her nickname, "KO Mequinonoag," reflects that connection.
Outside the ring, Reis has been an advocate for awareness surrounding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
She has also used her public platform to discuss Indigenous identity, representation and issues affecting Native communities.
Acting Career
Following the later stages of her boxing career, Reis established a successful career as an actress.
She starred in the 2021 film Catch the Fair One, portraying Kaylee, a former boxer searching for her missing younger sister.
Reis also contributed to the film as a writer.
Her performance brought wider attention to her work outside boxing and was followed by additional film and television roles.
In 2024, Reis starred opposite Jodie Foster as Alaska State Trooper Evangeline Navarro in HBO's True Detective: Night Country, the fourth season of the anthology series.
The role brought Reis substantial mainstream recognition beyond professional boxing.
Her later screen work has included appearances in Asphalt City, Rebuilding, Mercy and other film and television productions.
Legacy
Reis' professional career included championship success in multiple weight divisions and appearances in historically significant women's boxing events.
She became a world champion at middleweight before later becoming a unified world champion at super lightweight.
Her career included fights against champions such as Christina Hammer, Hanna Gabriels, Cecilia Braekhus, Diana Prazak, Maricela Cornejo and Jessica Camara.
Reis' 2018 fight with Braekhus also helped mark a significant moment in the growth of women's boxing on American television.
Following boxing, Reis became one of the relatively small number of former professional world champions to establish a substantial career in film and television.
Professional Record
Total Fights: 27
Wins: 19
Wins by KO: 5
Losses: 7
Draws: 1
Championships
- IBA World Female Middleweight Champion
- UBF World Female Middleweight Champion
- WBC World Female Middleweight Champion
- WBA World Female Super Lightweight Champion
- WBO World Female Super Lightweight Champion
- IBO World Female Super Lightweight Champion