In boxing, fortune often favors the bold, and Reina Tellez is leveraging that momentum as she returns to the global stage. The 23-year-old rose to prominence in January when she accepted a fight against seven-division champion Amanda Serrano on just 15 days’ notice. Despite a points defeat to the Puerto Rican legend, Tellez earned widespread respect for going the distance.
Praised as a “warrior” by Serrano, Tellez is now set to face Jessica Barry. The bout will feature on the undercard of the Mikaela Mayer vs. Chantelle Cameron main event at MVPW-06 in Birmingham this Saturday.
“I believe in myself and I have a lot of heart. This is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a child,” Tellez told Sky Sports. “Having the opportunity to fight someone I watched growing up, like Serrano, meant everything to me. I wanted to make my family proud and prove something to myself, so I took the fight despite the short notice.”
“I consider it a great outcome, even though I didn’t win. I gained so much from that experience, and for that, I’m grateful.”
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Currently holding a professional record of 13-1-1 (5 KOs), Tellez was previously slated to fight Juliana Vanesa Basualdo in May, though that bout failed to materialize. She now joins a landmark bill celebrating MVP’s fifth anniversary, citing her bravery in the Serrano fight as the catalyst for her current trajectory.
“The Serrano fight put me on the platform I’m on today,” she explained. “Without it, I wouldn’t have identified what I need in my life and career to remain successful. It taught me a great deal as both a boxer and a person.”
“I am not the same fighter I was when I faced Amanda Serrano. I feel I’ve truly evolved over the past few months, and I’m excited to showcase those changes in the ring. This fight means a lot to me, my team, and my family.”
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Serrano continues to dominate the sport, recently securing her 50th professional victory via majority decision over Lucrecia Manzur to retain her WBA and WBO featherweight titles. The event, streamed on TikTok, attracted 3.4 million views.
“When you look at what she has achieved, she’s done so much for the sport,” Tellez noted. “She is a world champion for a reason, and she deserves total respect.”
Tellez’s journey began in Vero Beach, Florida, where she grew up watching boxing and observing her uncle train. This passion eventually led her to relocate to further her professional ambitions.
“I told my family I wanted to box. At first, they were hesitant because I’m the only girl in the family,” she recalled. “But they eventually took a chance on me, took me to the gym, and I’ve been boxing ever since.”
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Tellez now trains in San Antonio, Texas, and will represent the boxing-rich state this weekend alongside fellow fighter Miranda Reyes.
“Boxing is huge in Texas, which is one of the primary reasons I moved here,” she added. “It’s incredible to see people I’ve known since childhood involved in this. I’m happy for everyone from my home who gets this opportunity. Best of luck to Miranda and myself.”
When asked if a “Texas takeover” is imminent, Tellez replied confidently: “For sure.”
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