Kali Reis and Two World Title Fights Headed to California

Kali Reis Confirmed for World Title Defense in SoCal and More News

 

By David A. Avila

Two world title fights are headed to Southern California.

A pair of super lightweight world titlists WBA champ Kali Reis and IBF champ Mary McGee headline a fight card on Friday August 20, at Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon, California. UFC Fight Pass will stream the DiBella Entertainment card.

It’s a great opportunity for Southern California fight fans to see two exceptional East Coast-based fighters perform on the West Coast. It’s also a chance for fans throughout North America to watch women prizefighters at its best via streaming.

Reis (17-7-1) defends the WBA belt against former super featherweight world titlist Diana Prazak (14-3) of Australia. In the co-main event McGee (27-3) defends the IBF and fights for the vacant WBO title against former world titlist Victoria Bustos (21-6) of Argentina.

Both Reis and McGee are managed by Brian Cohen and could potentially meet each other should they both win their title defenses. The WBO version was held by Christina Linardatou but she is out of action for a while. All four belts could be the reward later in the year.

Prazak, 42, had been inactive for several years but returned this past March and recorded a unanimous decision win in Tijuana, Mexico. As a super featherweight she wielded serious firepower. Will her power carry to a heavier weight class?

The champion Reis grabbed the WBA title by defeating Kandi Wyatt via unanimous decision in November 2020. She is also a former middleweight world titlist but dropped down three weight divisions and seems very comfortable at the 140-pound weight class.

Bustos, 32, formerly held the IBF lightweight world title and has faced world class competition including Katie Taylor, Erica Farias and Cecilia Braekhus. That’s pretty heavy-duty experience.

Defending will be McGee who defeated another Argentine in Ana Laura Esteche to win the IBF version in December 2019. She has one defense and that was a technical knockout win over Deanha Hobbs in February 2020.

Both world title bouts should be highly entertaining.

“There are already discussions of the winners of these bouts entering into a tournament to crown an undisputed champion,” said Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment.

 

Olympics

At press time USA flyweight Ginny Fuchs defeated Russian boxer Svetlana Soluianova for the only victory so far by an American female. Though she seemed to win every round two judges somehow scored it for the Russian boxer.

“I know at times it was a little sloppy,” said Fuchs who was able to attack the taller fighter and score with quick punches. “

USA featherweight Yarisel Ramirez lost to Croatia’s Nikolina Cacic by unanimous decision 5-0. She is the first man or woman to lose in the Tokyo Olympics.

 

More fight news

Argentina

Karen Carabajal (17-0) won by technical knockout in the sixth round over Flavia Quintero (2-4) on Friday July 23. The lightweight bout was held at Buenos Aires.

On Saturday July 31, flyweights Mayra Loyola (0-0-1) and Camila Avaca (1-0) meet four rounds at Cordoba.

 

China

Shanshan Deng (1-0) beat Xiudi Wen (1-1) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Friday July 23. The bantamweight fight was held at Ding An. Also, Li Li (1-0) beat Jingfei Wang (0-1) by decision after four rounds in a minimumweight fight. Plus, Jing Li (1-0) knocked out Ni Zhong (0-1) in the first round of their super flyweight bout.

 

Colombia

Olga Julio (35-18-2) defeated Maria Zavala (0-9) by knockout in the third round on Saturday July 24. The light flyweight bout was held at Santiago de Tolu.

 

France

Johanna Wonyou (3-0) won by unanimous decision after eight rounds versus Melanie Mercier (2-11-1) on Saturday July 24. The flyweight bout was held at Herault. Also, Amina Zidani (2-0) beat Anaelle Angerville (1-1-1) by split decision after eight super featherweight rounds.

 

Germany

Tina Rupprecht (11-0-1) won by split decision after 10 rounds against Katie Gutierrez (23-8) on Saturday July 24. The WBC minimum weight world title fight took place at Bayern. Also, Cheyenne Hanson (9-2) beat Sabina Mischenko (1-5) by technical knockout in the third round in their featherweight fight.

 

Italy

Stephanie Silva (3-0) defeated Snezana Siljkovic (1-12-3) by decision after six rounds on Friday July 23. The flyweight match was held at Lazio.

 

Japan

Megumi Watanabe (1-0) won by knockout in the third round over Sawako Fukuhara (0-2) on Monday July 26. The atomweight match took place at Tokyo.

Miyuki Katsuya (1-2-1) beat Riyako Goshi (3-7) by unanimous decision after four rounds on Wednesday July 21. The flyweight match was held in Tokyo.

 

Mexico

On Friday July 30, super bantamweights Ericka Rodriguez (2-0) and Rosa Diaz (7-4) meet four rounds at Tijuana.

 

Spain

Karla Merida (2-0) defeated Marijana Dasovic (0-10-1) by unanimous decision after four three-minute rounds on Saturday July 24. The featherweight bout took place in Barcelona.

Eva Cantos (1-0) won by split decision after five rounds versus Marisa Dominguez (0-1) on Saturday July 24. The super bantamweight match was held in Madrid.

 

Tanzania

On Friday July 30, super featherweights Fatima Zarika (33-13-2) and Patience Mastara (5-7-4) meet for six three-minute rounds at Dar es Salaam.

 

United Kingdom

On Saturday July 31, Louise Orton (0-0) and Gabriella Mezei (11-26-5) meet six rounds at London.

On Saturday July 31, super lightweights Sandy Ryan (0-0) and Kirstie Bavington (3-1-2) meet four rounds at Brentwood.

 

USA

Shayna Foppiano (4-0-1) knocked out Vanessa Grimes (0-1) in the first round on Friday July 23. The lightweight bout took place at Windham, New Hampshire.

On Saturday July 31, welterweights Aida Biggs (1-0) and Camille Casson (0-9) meet four rounds at Decatur, Georgia.

 

 

(Photo by Makeachamp.com)