Boxing Champion Kali Reis and Much More Female Fight News June 27, 2022
By David A. Avila
It was announced today via social media that junior welterweight world titlist Kali Reis was selected to portray a major role on HBO’s ongoing True Detective: Night Country series.
“Everybody is kind of in shock,” said Reis. “I’m excited for the opportunity.”
Reis, the current WBA, WBO and IBO junior welterweight titlist, will be acting alongside Jodie Foster in the fourth installment of the series. Filming will take place in Iceland.
Last year Reis was recognized for her work in the movie “Catch the Fair One” that received award recognition from various film festivals. It perhaps led to producers taking notice of her acting abilities.
“It just kind of came to me at the right time. It just manifested,” Reis said, who is married to promoter and trainer Brian Cohen.
Award winning actress Foster will also be executive producing the project and plays one of two leading roles. Reis plays the other lead role, but the filming dates have not yet been disclosed.
Reis said her boxing life will continue. She was tentatively going to meet Chantelle Cameron to unify the junior welterweight division to attain undisputed status.
“I’m still doing my thing on both and keeping my journey slow and steady,” said the world champion. “My phone has been ringing nonstop.”
What a tremendous achievement. Congratulations and continued success to Reis.
“I’m the first actress and unified world champion at the same time. You can put that in your story,” said Reis via phone. “Making major news.”
Other Welter stuff
One of boxing’s top pound for pound fighters Jessica McCaskill hammered out a victory over welterweight contender Alma Ibarra and immediately announced plans to drop down.
Or maybe not?
If plans to meet super lightweight titlist Chantelle Cameron are the true intent why not fight for both junior welterweight and welterweight titles? Fighting for two division titles has been done before and recently. (For those confused by the term junior welterweight, it is the same as a super lightweight. Just different terminology.)
We saw Claressa Shields do it and we saw Gervonta “Tank” Davis do it for the men.
If you go back in history, the great Henry Armstrong once held three division titles simultaneously when there were only eight weight divisions in the 1930s. “Homicide Hank” held the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight titles at the same time when he beat Lou Ambers in August 1938. Then lost the rematch a year later.
Armstrong held on to the welterweight title numerous fights more until 1940 when he was out-pointed by Fritzie Zivic after 15 rounds in Madison Square Garden.
I mention Armstrong because McCaskill has a similar type of style with her bob and weave and full-on assault. That was Armstrong though not exactly. But similar. The great Armstrong fought 180 times in the prize ring as a featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and even tried middleweight.
McCaskill has proven that size doesn’t matter.
Trained by Rick Ramos in Chicago, the McCaskill train seems intent on looking for the big fights only. And why not? There are only so many bullets in the chamber.
La Chucky
Argentina saw an exchange of titles when Celeste “Chucky” Alaniz (13-0, 5 Kos) knocked out Tamara Demarco (10-5) for the WBO flyweight world title 10 days ago.
“We’ve been working for 10 years, fighting, and without excuses,” said Alaniz who finally got her shot. “We do not avoid anyone. We are going for much more.”
The flyweight from Merlo, Buenos Aires finally got her chance and did not stumble in dropped Demarco twice in the first round. From that point on Alaniz was in command when the champion’s corner ended the title fight in the seventh round.
It was Demarco’s first defense of the title she had won by technical decision against Debora Anahi Lopez after a clash of heads. Lopez was unable to continue and the cards favored Demarco who walked away with the title.
Now Alaniz holds the WBO title and wants more. Marlen Esparza holds the WBC and WBA versions. Another Argentina, Leonela Yudica holds the IBF version and was set to defend against Mexico’s Arely Mucino but was felled by injury.
Kim Clavel vs Yesenia Gomez
It’s Canada’s Kim Clavel versus Mexico’s Yesenia Gomez for the WBC light flyweight title on July 29, in Montreal, Canada.
Gomez, 26, has held the WBC version since September 2018 when she defeated Esmeralda Moreno in a rematch. Since then she fought contenders while never fighting the number one ranked Kenia Enriquez. Gomez team also declined offers to face Seniesa Estrada.
Clavel, 31, poses the most skilled and athletically gifted fighter that Gomez has ever faced. Plus, they will be fighting in Clavel’s hometown.
It’s a big hurdle for Gomez who has fought only soft touches since gaining the title. Clavel has been undefeated and has a victory over Tamara Demarco who held the IBF title for a couple of nights.
Amanda Serrano vs Seniesa Estrada Media War
Do not get confused. Amanda Serrano and Seniesa Estrada are not fighting each other. Although that would be spectacular. There is a huge size difference.
Both pound for pound fighters have competing fights on the same day on August 6. Serrano faces Argentina’s Brenda Carabajal in defense of the WBO, WBC and IBO featherweight titles at Madison Square Garden. Showtime will televise.
Serrano returns to the site of her greatest performance that saw her and Katie Taylor sell out the famous arena in an historic challenge for the lightweight world championship. Both fighters poured their heart out and the world took notice.
On the same Aug. 6 night, two thousand miles away in Dallas, Texas, the minimumweight world champion Seniesa Estrada meets former champion Anabel Ortiz of Mexico in a rematch. DAZN will stream the world title fight.
Estrada last fought in December when she obliterated the challenge of Guatemala’s Maria Santizo by knockout in the fourth round.
Serrano and Estrada will be challenging for worldwide audiences. It’s come down to women versus women in ratings. That’s a good thing. Not too long ago it was unheard of to see women televised on boxing cards.
More Female Fight News
Argentina
Clara Lescurat (7-0) beat Maribel Ramirez (13-10-3) by split decision after 10 rounds on Friday June 24. The WBA super flyweight world title fight was held in Buenos Aires.
Australia
On Wednesday June 29, bantamweights Shannon O’Connell (22-6-1) and Sarah Higginson (3-1-1) meet six rounds at Brisbane. Also, welterweights Ella Boot (1-0) and Stephanie Mfongwot (1-0) meet four rounds.
On Saturday July 2, super flyweights Taylah Robertson (5-1) and Yoselin Fernandez (11-1) meet 10 rounds at Broadbeach, Queensland.
On Saturday July 2, bantamweights Rosario Martial (0-1) and Sarah Watt (0-2) meet six rounds for the Australian regional title at Revesby, New South Wales. Also, super flyweights Mai Soliman (0-0) and Ali Jensen (0-3) meet six rounds.
On Sunday July 3, featherweights Erini Ramirez (1-0) and Jaala Tomat (0-1) meet four rounds at Flemington.
Belgium
Femke Hermans (13-4) defeated Bojana Libiszewska (7-47) by unanimous decision after six rounds on Saturday June 25. The super welterweight bout took place at Brussells.
Canada
Mary Spencer (6-0) knocked out former world champion Chris Namus (25-8) in the first round on Thursday June 23. The super welterweight fight was held at Montreal.
On Saturday July 2, bantamweights Lindsay Garbatt (9-9-2) and Arely Rodriguez (1-4-2) meet six rounds at Niagara Falls.
Czech Republic
Alexas Kubicki (1-0) won by unanimous decision after six rounds versus Claudia Ferenczi (20-94-8) on Saturday June 25. The super flyweight fight was held in Usti nad Labem.
France
Marine Beauchamp (3-0) won by technical knockout over Milica Stojisin (0-2) in the third round on Friday June 24. The super welterweight fight was held at Var.
On Thursday June 30, super bantamweights Romane Geffray (2-4-1) and Laela El Ksiri (2-1) meet eight rounds at Maine et Loire.
On Saturday July 2, bantamweights Jeyssa Marcel (5-0) and Egine Kayange (6-2) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Garges.
On Saturday July 2, lightweights Emma Gongora (3-2) and Donya Darouiche (2-3) meet six rounds at Marseille.
Germany
On Saturday July 2, bantamweights Michelle Klich (4-0) and Delphine Mancini (4-0) meet 10 rounds at Bayern for a regional title.
On Sunday July 3, lightweights Madeleine Mohrhardt (2-0) and Teresa Peters (0-0) meet four rounds at Hessen.
Italy
Pamela Noutcho (2-0) beat Alessia Vitanza (2-1) by decision after six rounds on Friday June 24. The super lightweight match took place at Bologna.
Japan
Makoto Kikuchi (2-1) defeated Marina Sayama (4-4-1) by decision after eight rounds on Wednesday June 22. The OPBF bantamweight title fight was held in Tokyo. Also, super flyweight Michiko Abiru (4-6) beat Yunoka Furukawa (9-3-2); and super bantamweight Sara Ito (2-0-1) beat Kei Sugimoto (2-4).
New Zealand
Lani Daniels (6-2-2) won by decision after eight rounds versus Tinta Smith (0-1) on Friday June 24. The light heavyweight bout took place at Lake Karapiro.
Panama
On Saturday July 2, bantamweights Sayda Mosquera (9-4-1) and Julianna Rodriguez (4-0) meet eight rounds at Panama City.
Poland
Laura Grzyb (7-0) defeated Martine Vallieres (5-1) by decision after eight rounds on Friday June 24. The featherweight fight was held at Kielce.
South Africa
Rolen Mulebo (2-0) defeated Lillian Molala (2-12-2) by decision after four rounds on Sunday June 26. The cruiserweight fight was held in Limpopo.
Tanzania
On Friday July 1, super bantamweights Stumai Muki (5-1) and Chimwemwe Banda (3-3) meet eight rounds at Dar es Salaam.
Thailand
Kullathida Kuesanor (1-0) knocked out Weerayan Koythong (0-1) in the fourth round on Saturday June 25. The minimumweight fight took place at Pathum Thani. Also, minimumweights Cecile Cortez (5-0) knocked out Tassana Paladsrichuay (4-9) in the fourth round and Watcharaporn Namphon (2-0) knocked out Jiraporn Chompuwiset (0-1) in the fourth round. A super flyweight fight saw Chisakan Ariphipat (15-1-1) beat Kulathida Thongpradub (0-2) by decision after six.
United Kingdom
Kariss Artingstall (1-0) defeated Vaida Masiokate (2-17-5) by decision after six rounds on Saturday June 25. The featherweight fight was held in Coventry.
USA
Jessica McCaskill (12-2) won by technical knockout in the third round over Mexico’s Alma Ibarra (10-2) on Saturday June 25. The welterweight world championship fight was held in San Antonio, Texas.
Miranda Reyes (6-1-1) defeated Jaime Clampitt (23-6-2) by unanimous decision after eight rounds on Friday June 24. The lightweight match was held in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
On Saturday July 2, middleweights Mary Casamassa (1-0) and LeAnn O’Malley (1-2) meet four rounds at Washington, Penn.
Venezuela
On Friday July 1, light flyweights Estefania Matute (4-18) and Yusbely Torrealba (1-4-1) meet six rounds at Maracay.
(Photo by Powwows.com)