Kali Reis
- Light welterweight
- Welterweight
- Light middleweight
- Middleweight
Kali Reis (born August 24, 1986) is an American professional boxer and actress. She is a former world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC female middleweight title in 2016 and the WBA, WBO, and IBO female light welterweight titles between 2020 and 2022. She also challenged Cecilia Brækhus for the undisputed female welterweight title in 2018.
In 2021, Reis made her acting debut as the star of the American thriller film Catch the Fair One. For her performance as a boxer endeavoring to rescue her missing sister, she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.[4][5] She has since starred in the mystery series True Detective: Night Country (2024).[6]
Early life and education
Reis was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on August 24, 1986[3][1][2][7][8] and is the youngest of five children.[9] She and her siblings were raised by their mother in East Providence, Rhode Island.[9][10] Reis is of Cape Verdean ancestry, and identifies as being Afro-Indigenous,[11] specifically of Wampanoag, Cherokee, and Nipmuc descent.[12] She is a member of the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe,[12] an unrecognized tribe in Massachusetts.
As a child, she attended and competed in powwows regularly.[9][13] She has incorporated the name Mequinonoag, which she translates as "many feathers" or "many talents" into her boxing nickname, "K.O. Mequinonoag."[14][12] The name was given to her by her mother, whom Reis identifies as being "the medicine woman of our Seaconke Wampanoag tribe."[14]
Reis was an athletic child and often played rougher sports with the neighborhood boys.[9] She was also involved in her junior high and her high school marching bands and color guards and on her high school volleyball team.[12] Starting in her 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 at her house.[9][15] Reis later went to school for criminology and also learned how to repair motorcycles at MTTI.[10] Reis went on to continue her training at Manfredos Gym and Big Six Boxing Academy in Providence.[9] 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.[12] While beginning her boxing career, she also worked in nightclub security. During this time, she sued the city after being attacked by a police officer.[16]
Professional boxing career
In 2012, Reis was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that sidelined her for the remainder of the boxing season.[15] However, she returned in 2013 and fought for the WIBA title in November of that year.[3] Reis gained further attention in the sport after the match.[15] On November 12, 2014, Reis won the IBA crown defeating Teresa Perozzi in Bermuda.[3][10] Reis also coaches boxing for youth and works as a trainer.[15] In April 2016, Reis won her first major world title in New Zealand against Maricela Cornejo for the vacant WBC World Middleweight title.
HBO broadcast its first women's bout, between Cecilia Brækhus and Reis, on May 5, 2018, which Brækhus won.[17][18]
Reis won a total of 19 fights during her career, 5 by knockout.[19]
Acting career
Reis became involved in Catch the Fair One after filmmaker Josef Kubota Wladyka discovered Reis's advocacy for the MMIWG movement and asked if she would collaborate as a co-writer and lead actress on a film about that subject.[20] Catch the Fair One premiered in June 2021 at the Tribeca Film Festival.[21] The film and Reis's debut performance received critical acclaim.
Reis was cast in Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire's 2023 film Asphalt City (originally titled Black Flies, adapted from the 2008 novel of the same name by Shannon Burke), starring Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan, and Katherine Waterston.[22][23]
In June 2022, Reis was announced as the co-lead of True Detective: Night Country, the fourth season of HBO's anthology crime series. Reis starred alongside Jodie Foster as a detective investigating the disappearance of eight men from an Alaskan research station and that event's possible connection to the earlier murder of a young woman, an Iñupiaq activist.[22][24]
Accolades
For her role in Catch the Fair One, Reis won the Jury Award for Best Actress at the 2021 Newport Beach Film Festival.[25] She was also nominated for Best Female Lead at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards.[26] In 2024, Reis became the first Native American woman nominated for a Primetime Emmy for acting; Reis was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her work in True Detective.[27][28][29]
Personal life
Reis identifies as two-spirit, and has been in relationships with both women and men.[16]
She is an active supporter of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement.[13][30]
Professional boxing record
27 fights | 19 wins | 7 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 5 | 0 |
By decision | 13 | 7 |
By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
Draws | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 | Win | 19–7–1 | Jessica Camara | SD | 10 | November 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 | August 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 | November 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 | August 29, 2019 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | |
23 | Win | 15–7–1 | Szilvia Szabados | TKO | 6 (6) 1:30 | October 18, 2018 | Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC, U.S. | |
22 | Win | 14–7–1 | Paty Ramirez | UD | 8 | June 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 | November 25, 2017 | Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC, US | |
19 | Win | 12–6–1 | Sydney LeBlanc | UD | 6 | October 19, 2017 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
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 | November 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 | July 15, 2016 | Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
15 | Win | 9–5–1 | Maricela Cornejo | SD | 10 | April 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 | February 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 | October 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 | November 21, 2014 | Fairmont Southampton Resort, Southampton, Bermuda | Won vacant IBA female middleweight title |
10 | Loss | 6–3–1 | Mikaela Laurén | UD | 8 | July 18, 2014 | Pabellon Municipal, Sedaví, Spain | |
9 | Win | 6–2–1 | Marva Dash | DQ | 4 (6) 1:41 | March 3, 2014 | Irish Cultural Center, Canton, Massachusetts, U.S. | Dash disqualified for excessive holding |
8 | Loss | 5–2–1 | Tori Nelson | UD | 10 | November 7, 2013 | Martin's Valley Mansion, Cockeysville, Maryland, U.S. | For WIBA welterweight title |
7 | Win | 5–1–1 | Lyneisha Jefferson | PTS | 4 | June 29, 2012 | Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
6 | Win | 4–1–1 | Marva Dash | UD | 4 | March 9, 2012 | Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
5 | Win | 3–1–1 | Kate Aversa | TKO | 2 (4) | December 9, 2011 | Civic Center, West Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
4 | Draw | 2–1–1 | Sarah Kuhn | SD | 6 | October 28, 2011 | Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany, New York, U.S. | |
3 | Loss | 2–1 | Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes | MD | 6 | July 9, 2010 | Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes | UD | 4 | March 6, 2009 | Memorial Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Betsy Rowell | TKO | 2 (4), 1:16 | September 6, 2008 | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Catch the Fair One | Kaylee | Also "story by" |
2023 | Asphalt City | Nia | |
2025 | Mercy † | Filming | |
TBA | Wind River: The Next Chapter † | Post-production |
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | True Detective: Night Country | Evangeline Navarro | Miniseries |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Kali Reis: Behind the Fighter". roundbyroundboxing.com. April 30, 2018.
- ^ a b "2 Female Boxers Fightin Their Way in a Man's World: Shelly Vincent and Kali Reis". Real Combat Media. October 29, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Sam Laskaris (2014). "Native Boxer Wins Women's IBA Crown". Indian Country Today Media Network. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 11, 2022). "ICM & Authentic Talent & Lit Management Sign 'Catch The Fair One' Boxer, Actress & Writer Kali Reis". Deadline. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ Gracewood, Gemma (February 14, 2022). "Fighting Spirit: Catch the Fair One's Many-Feathered Star • Journal • A Letterboxd Magazine". Letterboxd.com. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ Wigler, Josh (February 19, 2024). "True Detective: Night Country Team Explains Ambiguous Ending: "You Should Be Making Theories"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "Kali Active". TB Data. 2015. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
- ^ Gia Bolton (2015). "WHAT A KNOCKOUT: AN INTERVIEW WITH K.O. KALI REIS". Native Max Magazine. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kali Reis Interview". Women's Boxing Archive Network. 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
- ^ a b c Dawn Karima (2014). "Native Knockout". PowWows.com. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
- ^ Sun, Rebecca (March 9, 2024). "'True Detective' Star Kali Reis Embraces Her Afro-Indigenous Heritage: "I Have Two Rooms I Can Stand In"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Women's Boxing: Kali Reis-". www.womenboxing.com.
- ^ a b "Kali Reis". WBAN.
- ^ a b c d Girlboxing (2014). "K.O. Mequinonoag Reis: Exclusive Q & A Ahead Of Her May 3, 2014 Fight!". Girlboxing. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Hadadi, Roxana (July 17, 2024). "Night Country's Kali Reis Claims Another Victory". Vulture.
- ^ 🖉"Cecilia Braekhus outpoints game Kali Reis, remains undisputed welterweight champ". May 6, 2018.
- ^ 🖉Mahmood, Zahid (May 2, 2018). "HBO's first televised female boxing match breaking 'the last barrier'". CNN.
- ^ "True Detective star Kali Reis: 'I got accused of my character being a rapist!'". The Independent. February 6, 2024.
- ^ Feldberg, Isaac (February 8, 2022). "By Any Means Necessary: Kali Reis on Catch the Fair One". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (June 24, 2021). "'Catch The Fair One', 'Blind Ambition' win Tribeca Festival audience awards". Screen. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (June 28, 2022). "True Detective: Kali Reis Joins Jodie Foster in Season 4 as It Gets HBO Greenlight". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Morris, Nicky (January 29, 2024). "Meet True Detective star Kali Reis's famous husband". Hello!. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ Tobias, Scott (January 30, 2024). "True Detective Season 4, Episode 3 Recap: 'Toxicity'". The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ "2021 Awards". Newport Beach Film Festival. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ "Best Female Lead Archives". Film Independent. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (July 17, 2024). "Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis Make Emmys History as First Indigenous Women Nominated for Acting".
- ^ Hale, Nardos (January 9, 2024). ""I'm not fully this either": Lily Gladstone discusses pronoun inclusivity". Salon. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "Pride Guide: 15 LGBTQ+ Filmmakers and Artists on the Rise in 2023". A.frame. Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. June 16, 2023. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "BLACKFEET".
External links
- Boxing record for Kali Reis from BoxRec (registration required)
- Kali Reis at IMDb
Sporting positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Minor world boxing titles | ||||
Vacant Title last held by Mary Jo Sanders | IBA female middleweight champion November 21, 2014 – 2015 Vacated | Vacant | ||
Vacant Title last held by Tori Nelson | UBF female middleweight champion February 19, 2016 – March 2016 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Tori Nelson | ||
Vacant Title last held by Svetlana Kulakova | IBO female light-welterweight champion August 20, 2021 – 2022 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Chantelle Cameron | ||
Major world boxing titles | ||||
Vacant Title last held by Tori Nelson | WBC female middleweight champion April 16, 2016 – November 5, 2016 | Succeeded by | ||
Vacant Title last held by Jessica McCaskill | WBA female light-welterweight champion November 6, 2020 – 2022 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Chantelle Cameron | ||
Vacant Title last held by Christina Linardatou | WBO female light-welterweight champion November 19, 2021 – 2022 Vacated |