Kali Reis

Last updated

Kali Reis
Kali Reis 2024 01.png
Reis in 2024
Born (1986-08-24) August 24, 1986 (age 38) [1] [2]
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Other namesK.O. Mequinonoag [3]
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights27
Wins19
Wins by KO5
Losses7
Draws1

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.

Contents

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, family and education

Reis was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on August 24, 1986, [3] [1] [2] [7] [8] the youngest of five children. [9] She and her siblings were raised by their mother in East Providence. [9] [10] She has Cape Verdean ancestry and identifies as being Afro-Indigenous, [11] specifically of Wampanoag, Cherokee, and Nipmuc descent. [9] She is a member of the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe, [9] an unrecognized tribe in Massachusetts.

As a child, she attended and competed in powwows regularly. [9] [12] She has incorporated the name Mequinonoag, which she translates as "many feathers" or "many talents" into her boxing nickname, "K.O. Mequinonoag. [9] The name was given to her by her mother, whom Reis identifies as being "the medicine woman of our Seaconke Wampanoag tribe." [9]

Reis was an athletic child and often played rougher sports with the neighborhood boys. [9] She was involved in her junior high and her high school marching bands and color guards and competed in high school volleyball, [9] basketball and softball. 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] [13]

Reis later attended school for criminology and also learned how to repair motorcycles at MTTI. [10] She continued 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. [9] 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. [14]

Professional boxing career

In 2012, Reis was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that sidelined her for the remainder of the boxing season. [13] 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. [13] 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. [13] 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. [15] [16]

Reis won a total of 19 fights during her career, 5 by knockout. [17]

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. [18] Catch the Fair One premiered in June 2021 at the Tribeca Film Festival. [19] 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. [20] [21]

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. [20] [22]

Accolades

For her role in Catch the Fair One, Reis won the Jury Award for Best Actress at the 2021 Newport Beach Film Festival. [23] She was also nominated for Best Female Lead at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards. [24] 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 . [25] [26] [27]

Personal life

Reis identifies as two-spirit, and has been in relationships with both women and men. [14]

She is an active supporter of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement. [12] [28]

Professional boxing record

27 fights19 wins7 losses
By knockout50
By decision137
By disqualification10
Draws1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
27Win19–7–1 Jessica Camara SD10November 19, 2021 SNHU Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.Retained WBA and IBO female light welterweight titles;
Won vacant WBO light welterweight title
26Win18–7–1 Diana Prazak UD10August 20, 2021 Sycuan Casino, El Cajon, California, U.S.Retained WBA female light welterweight title;
Won vacant IBO female light welterweight title
25Win17–7–1 Kandi Wyatt UD10November 6, 2020Marriott Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.Won vacant WBA female light welterweight title
24Win16–7–1Patricia JuarezUD6August 29, 2019 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.
23Win15–7–1Szilvia SzabadosTKO6 (6) 1:30October 18, 2018Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC, U.S.
22Win14–7–1Paty RamirezUD8June 30, 2018Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
21Loss13–7–1 Cecilia Brækhus UD10May 5, 2018 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.For WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and IBO female welterweight titles
20Win13–6–1Tiffany WoodardUD6November 25, 2017 Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC, US
19Win12–6–1Sydney LeBlancUD6October 19, 2017Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US
18Win11–6–1Ashleigh CurryMD6May 11, 2017 Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
17Loss10–6–1 Christina Hammer UD10November 5, 2016Ballhaus Forum, Munich, GermanyLost WBC female middleweight title;
For WBO female middleweight title
16Win10–5–1Althea SaundersUD8July 15, 2016Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.
15Win9–5–1 Maricela Cornejo SD10April 16, 2016 The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New ZealandWon vacant WBC female middleweight title
14Win8–5–1 Victoria Cisneros TKO1 (10) 1:31February 19, 2016Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.Won vacant UBF female middleweight title
13Loss7–5–1 Hanna Gabriels UD10October 17, 2015 Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño, Liberia, Costa RicaFor WBO female light middleweight title
12Loss7–4–1 Christina Hammer UD10May 2, 2015 Sparkassen-Arena, Jena, GermanyFor WBO female middleweight title
11Win7–3–1 Teresa Perozzi TKO3 (10) 0:51November 21, 2014Fairmont Southampton Resort, Southampton, BermudaWon vacant IBA female middleweight title
10Loss6–3–1 Mikaela Laurén UD8July 18, 2014Pabellon Municipal, Sedaví, Spain
9Win6–2–1Marva DashDQ4 (6) 1:41March 3, 2014Irish Cultural Center, Canton, Massachusetts, U.S.Dash disqualified for excessive holding
8Loss5–2–1 Tori Nelson UD10November 7, 2013Martin's Valley Mansion, Cockeysville, Maryland, U.S.For WIBA welterweight title
7Win5–1–1Lyneisha JeffersonPTS4June 29, 2012Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
6Win4–1–1Marva DashUD4March 9, 2012 Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
5Win3–1–1Kate AversaTKO2 (4)December 9, 2011Civic Center, West Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S.
4Draw2–1–1Sarah KuhnSD6October 28, 2011 Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany, New York, U.S.
3Loss2–1Aleksandra Magdziak LopesMD6July 9, 2010 Twin River Event Center, Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.
2Win2–0Aleksandra Magdziak LopesUD4March 6, 2009 Memorial Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
1Win1–0Betsy RowellTKO2 (4), 1:16September 6, 2008The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2021 Catch the Fair One KayleeAlso "story by"
2023 Asphalt City Nia
2025 Mercy †Post-production
TBA Wind River: The Next Chapter †Post-production
Key
†Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2024 True Detective: Night Country Evangeline NavarroMiniseries

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Kali Reis: Behind the Fighter". roundbyroundboxing.com. April 30, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "2 Female Boxers Fightin Their Way in a Man's World: Shelly Vincent and Kali Reis". Real Combat Media. October 29, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ "Kali Active". TB Data. 2015. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  8. ↑ Bolton, Gia (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.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Kali Reis". womenboxing.com.
  10. 1 2 3 Karima, Dawn (2014). "Native Knockout". PowWows.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. 1 2 "Kali Reis: Everything - or nothing at all". boxing-social.com. February 4, 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Girlboxing (2014). "K.O. Mequinonoag Reis: Exclusive Q & A Ahead Of Her May 3, 2014 Fight!". Girlboxing. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Hadadi, Roxana (July 17, 2024). "Night Country's Kali Reis Claims Another Victory". Vulture.com .
  15. ↑ 🖉 "Cecilia Braekhus outpoints game Kali Reis, remains undisputed welterweight champ". May 6, 2018.
  16. ↑ 🖉Mahmood, Zahid (May 2, 2018). "HBO's first televised female boxing match breaking 'the last barrier'". CNN.
  17. ↑ "True Detective star Kali Reis: 'I got accused of my character being a rapist!'". The Independent. February 6, 2024.
  18. ↑ Feldberg, Isaac (February 8, 2022). "By Any Means Necessary: Kali Reis on Catch the Fair One". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  19. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (June 24, 2021). "'Catch The Fair One', 'Blind Ambition' win Tribeca Festival audience awards". Screen. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  20. 1 2 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.
  21. ↑ Morris, Nicky (January 29, 2024). "Meet True Detective star Kali Reis's famous husband". Hello! . Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  22. ↑ Tobias, Scott (January 30, 2024). "True Detective Season 4, Episode 3 Recap: 'Toxicity'". The New York Times . Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  23. ↑ "2021 Awards". Newport Beach Film Festival. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Best Female Lead Archives". Film Independent. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  25. ↑ Davis, Clayton (July 17, 2024). "Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis Make Emmys History as First Indigenous Women Nominated for Acting".
  26. ↑ 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.
  27. ↑ "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.
  28. ↑ "BLACKFEET".
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
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