Kali Reis Escapes With a Tougher Than Expected Win Over Rough and Rugged Diana Prazak
WBA junior welterweight champion Kali “KO Mequinonoag” Reis (18-7-1, 5 KOs) is putting the title on the line against former WBC junior lightweight champion Diana Prazak (14-4, 9 KOs).
Prazak is a 42-year-old Australian looking for one last chance at regaining a championship. She won the WBC junior lightweight championship by knocking out then-undefeated champion Frida Walberg back in 2013. Moreover, she brings a lot of experience, having shared the ring with former champions Holly Holm, Fatuma Zarika, and Delfine Persoon.
Reis is a two-divisional world champion who previously held the WBC middleweight crown before losing it to Christina Hammer in a unification back in 2016. The Rhode Island native will be making her first title defense since winning the championship back in 2020. She has been in the ring with some bona fide competition in her own right. Reis has faced current three-divisional champion Hanna Gabriels and former champions Mikaela Lauren and Cecilia Braekhus.
PRESSURE, PRESSURE, AND MORE PRESSURE
The challenger is three inches shorter than the defending champ. Understanding her height disadvantage, Prazak attacked early with punches in bunches. However, Reis settled down using a sidestep to get off with the jab and combinations to the head and body.
TIGHT UNTIL THE END
Prazak fought like she had ants in her pants, fighting at a tremendous pace that belied her age and having fought only once since 2014. She was giving Reis all she could handle. It was not the easiest of fights to score. Did you prefer the hyper-aggression of the challenger or the boxing and counterpunching of the champ?
To boot, in the championship rounds, the Aussie was more active and seemed to have the momentum. At the final bell, Reis had the look of someone surprised that she was in such a tough battle.
In the end, the fighter from Rhode Island was declared the winner by a majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 97-93). This fight could have gone either way, and some would argue Prazak deserved the verdict. Kali Reis was not happy with her performance afterward and said she’s willing to give Prazak a rematch.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
