Oral History Center University of California the Bancroft Library Berkeley, California

Oral History Center University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California Kali Reis: Professional Midweight Champion Boxer Interviews conducted by Rudy Mondragón in 2019 Copyright © 2020 by The Regents of the University of California Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley ii Since 1954 the Oral History Center of The Bancroft Library, formerly the Regional Oral History Office, has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the nation. Oral History is a method of collecting historical information through recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. The recording is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The corrected manuscript is bound with photographs and illustrative materials and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and in other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ********************************* All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Kali Reis dated June 15, 2019. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Excerpts up to 1,000 words from this interview may be quoted for publication without seeking permission as long as the use is non-commercial and properly cited. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to The Bancroft Library, Head of Public Services, Mail Code 6000, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000, and should follow instructions available online at http://ucblib.link/OHC-rights. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Kali Reis, “Kali Reis: Professional Midweight Champion Boxer” conducted by Rudy Mondragón in 2019, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2020. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley iii Kali Reis. Photo by Rudy Mondragón, 2019 Kali Reis with Championship Belts. Photo by Rudy Mondragón, 2019 Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley iv Abstract Kali Reis is a professional boxer from Providence, Rhode Island. As a professional fighter, Reis has held the World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Association (IBA), and Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) middleweight world titles. In addition to fighting professionally, Reis has also served as a residential counselor for young girls since 2010, using her boxing expertise to help young girls develop coping skills. In this interview, Reis discusses her early life, introduction to boxing, the parallels between her ring entrance and Powwows, capturing her first world title, and becoming the first woman, along Cecilia Brækhus, to be on a televised Home Box Office (HBO) fight card. This was the first time in 45 years of televising fights that HBO showcased a women's fight. This interview was conducted by Rudy Mondragón, a graduate fellow. He is a PhD candidate in the Chicana/o Studies Department at the University of California, Los Angeles. As an interdisciplinary critical sports scholar, Mondragón examines the sport of boxing and the ways in which professional fighters deploy forms of expressive culture in their ring entrances to perform their politics, multiple identities, and at times, resistance to dominant ideologies and power structures. Mondragón has also used photography to document and capture his fieldwork research experience at boxing gyms, media events, and boxing matches. He has been featured in ESPN, Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and has written for LA Taco, Remezcla, and We Are Mitu. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley v Table of Contents Interview 1: June 13, 2019 Hour 1 1 Born August 24, 1968 in Rhode Island — Early childhood — Seaconke Wampanoag and Cape Verdean heritage — Mother’s involvement in Native American culture — Growing up in East Providence — Interest in sports — Grappling with Native and mixed identity — Introduction to boxing — First fight at age 15 — Relationship with siblings — Inheriting strength from her mother — Family history and lineage — Tribal elders like walking history books — Relationship with father and Cape Verdean culture — Encountering racism within Native American communities — Blood quantum laws and “genetic genocide” — Acceptance of mixed heritage — Genetics versus history and culture — Identifying as an urban Native — Spending a year on the Pequot reservation — Return to Providence — Benefits of reservation life and community building — Early interest in motorcycles — Desire to prove others wrong — Learning to ride motorcycles at age 17 — First bike at age 20 — Mechanical training at MotoRing Technical Training Institute — Love of Rocky as a child — Lack of exposure to female boxers — Boxing as an art — Parents’ musical backgrounds — Father performing with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch — Talent for musical instruments and painting — Watching Bob Ross with her grandmother — Parallels between art, boxing, and powwows Hour 2 24 Sense of community at Peter Manfredo, Sr.’s gym — Improvement in boxing — Influence of Native American boxer Domingo Monroe — Girl Fight film — Sparring both men and women — Relationship with Peter Manfredo, Jr. — Fight record as an amateur boxer — Lack of competition in Reis’s weight class — “Smokers” and unofficial fights — Native Americans in boxing — Daily training routines — Importance of self-care — Fight record as a professional boxer — Organization and management of fights — Maintaining body weight — First offer for a world title fight with Women’s International Boxing Association — 2012 motorcycle accident — Inability to box post- accident — Employment as a club bouncer — Assault by police officer at the club — Legal aftermath of police incident — Harassment from other officers — Decision to move to Pequot reservation — Dealing with substance abuse and PTSD — Return to boxing in 2013 — 2014 world title fight in Bermuda against Teresa Perozzi — History of slavery in Bermuda, connection to Wampanoag heritage — Boxing trainer Mike Veloz — Winning first world title — “Fight 4 All Nations” and Native American Heritage Month — Impact of world title victory Interview 2: June 14, 2019 Hour 1 48 Watching fights as a spectator — Ring names K.O. and Mequinonoag — Origin of “Fight 4 All Nations” motto — The number 4 in Native culture — Desire to give back to Native Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley vi communities — Plans for a Fight 4 All Nations Rez Tour — Plans for boxing seminars for Native women — Boxing for self-defense and self-worth — Native girls and mental health — Receiving messages from fans struggling with mental health — Fan interaction and empowerment — Work as a residential counselor since 2010 — Saint Mary’s Home for Children — Management of Cycle Gear motorcycle store — Influence of being a boxer in the counseling field — Receiving physical challenges from men — Having a diverse following as a boxer — Boxing as a mental sport— Value of honest criticism — Community and family as a motivator — Roland Estrada’s training techniques — Ingenuity in training sessions Interview 3: June 15, 2019 Hour 1 71 Self-perception versus how others perceive her — Interests beyond boxing — Musical background and interests — Rhode Island boxing community — Roland Estrada founding Big Six Boxing Academy — Building fire at Estrada’s gym — Boxing summer camps with Jason Estrada — Employment history — Work at an adult store warehouse — Boxing community like a tribe — Rivalry between Peter Manfredo, Sr. and Roland Estrada — Manfredo and Estrada reconnecting at Reis’s 2013 fight — Misidentification of Native Americans as Black Americans — Sexuality, race, and labeling — Identifying as Two Spirit — Binaries in Western culture — Mother’s Christian upbringing and beliefs — Aligning with Native spirituality over Christianity — Incident at Bible boot camp — Coming out to her mother — Mother’s reaction to engagement with Stephanie — Mother’s acceptance of Stephanie — Current relationship with mother — Christian musical artists — Mother as an emotional rock — Support system of mixed Native Americans — Ancestral connection to Anawan — History of Anawan, Metacomet, and King Philip’s War — Mixed race identities and racial hierarchies — 2018 title fight in California — Participating in first women’s fight broadcasted on HBO Hour 2 95 Opponent Cecilia Brækhus — Lack of recognition for Reis — Reflections on Brækhus and the fight — Brand and reputation in boxing — Support from boxing fans after losing to Brækhus — Becoming “the people’s champ” — Ring entrances as a ceremony — Rhode Island Hell’s Angels — Connections to New England motorcycle clubs — Mother’s involvement in powwows — Choosing

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