Reina Tellez: Better Now After Fighting Serrano on Short Notice

Reina Tellez, a resilient 23-year-old boxer, is seizing a new opportunity on the world stage, fueled by her recent daring performance. In January, Tellez gained significant attention when she agreed to a bout against seven-division champion Amanda Serrano with only 15 days' notice. Although she ultimately lost the fight by decision to the Puerto Rican icon, her courage and determination earned her the admiration of Serrano, who described her as a 'warrior'.

Now, Tellez is preparing to face Jessica Barry on the undercard of the highly anticipated Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron main event at MVPW-06 in Birmingham this Saturday.

"I believe in myself and I have a lot of heart," Tellez shared with Sky Sports. "This is something I've always wanted to do, ever since I was a child. Having someone I watched growing up (Serrano) and then having the opportunity to fight her meant so much to me. It was about making my family proud and proving something to myself. So, I took the fight despite the short notice."

She added, "I had a great outcome, even though it wasn't a win. I gained so much from that fight. As I said, I'm grateful."

Tellez, who holds a professional record of 13 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw (with 5 knockouts), was previously slated to fight Juliana Vanesa Basualdo in May, but that bout did not materialize. Her appearance on this upcoming card, celebrating MVP's fifth anniversary, is a direct result, she believes, of her decision to face Serrano on short notice.

"The Serrano fight put me on a platform like I am today. For that, I am extremely grateful," Tellez stated. "I feel like without that fight, I wouldn't have been able to see the things I needed in my life and career to continue being successful and remain 'Reina'. It taught me a lot as a boxer and as a person."

"It means a great deal to me. I am not the same fighter I was when I fought Amanda Serrano, or even in my fights before that. I feel I have truly evolved," she continued. "To see how much I've improved over the past few months and the changes I've made that I can showcase in the ring, it means the world to me. This fight is incredibly important to me, my family, and my team. So, I am grateful for it."

Serrano recently achieved her 50th professional victory with a majority decision win over Lucrecia Manzur, successfully defending her WBA and WBO featherweight titles. That fight was broadcast live on TikTok and garnered 3.4 million views.

"You look at everything she (Serrano) has accomplished; she has done so much for the sport," Tellez remarked. "She is a world champion for a reason. So, you always have to show her respect."

Tellez's journey into boxing began in her childhood in Vero Beach, Florida. She frequently watched the sport on television and observed her uncle training at a local gym. This eventually led her to relocate to advance her boxing career.

"I told them I wanted to box, and at first, they were hesitant because I'm the only girl in the family," she recalled. "But then they took a chance, took me to the gym, and I've been boxing ever since."

Currently, Tellez trains in San Antonio, Texas. She and Miranda Reyes represent Texas, a state known for its boxing talent, this weekend.

"Texas is vast, and boxing is huge in Texas; that's one of the main reasons I moved here," she explained. "It's incredible to see people I've known since childhood here. And I'm happy for everyone from where I come from to get this opportunity. So, best of luck to Miranda and to me."

When asked about a potential "Texas takeover," Tellez confidently replied, "For sure."

Watch Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron this Saturday, with Caroline Dubois also in action, live on Sky Sports.