Reina Tellez has emerged from one of boxing's boldest gambles with her reputation intact and her trajectory pointed firmly upward. The 23-year-old American is preparing to showcase her evolution when she steps into the ring against Jessica Barry on the undercard of a landmark MVP celebration this weekend.
Tellez's path to Saturday's bout runs directly through her January encounter with seven-division champion Amanda Serrano. Offered the chance to face the Puerto Rican icon on just 15 days' notice, the young fighter accepted without hesitation—a decision that has reshaped her entire career trajectory.
Though she fell short on the scorecards in that points defeat, Serrano herself hailed Tellez as a 'warrior' for her willingness to step up. That performance has become the defining moment of Tellez's professional journey, opening doors she might otherwise have waited years to access.
I believe in myself and I have a lot of heart. This is something I've always wanted to do, ever since I was a child,Tellez told Sky Sports.
Having somebody that I watched growing up (Serrano) and then having the opportunity to fight her, it meant so much to me. And to make my family proud and to prove something to myself. So I took it considering the short time.
I had a great outcome, even though it wasn't a win. I got a lot of things from that fight. Like I said, I'm grateful.
The Serrano bout has become the catalyst for Tellez's current opportunity. According to ESPN, Tellez now faces Barry in a featherweight contest on the MVPW-06 card, part of MVP's fifth-anniversary celebration at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham on August 29. The event features a UK versus USA theme, with Barry listed as a 10-1 fighter with 2 knockouts, while Tellez holds a professional record of 13-1-1 with 5 knockouts.
The Serrano fight got me on a platform like I am today. For that, I'm extremely grateful,Tellez continued.
I feel like without that fight, I wouldn't be able to see the things that I need in my life and in my career to keep being successful and keep being Reina. It taught me a lot as a boxer and as a person.
Tellez's growth since that January night extends beyond the mental and emotional realm. She has made tangible adjustments to her craft, refinements she is eager to demonstrate against Barry.
It means a lot to me. I'm not the same fighter that I was when I fought Amanda Serrano, and even my fights before that, I feel like I've really evolved.
So to see how much better I've got over the past couple of months and the changes that I've made that I can showcase in the ring, it means a lot to me. This fight means so much to me, my family and my team. So I'm grateful for it.
The journey to this moment began in Vero Beach, Florida, where Tellez grew up watching boxing on television and observing her uncle train at a local gymnasium. Those early influences planted the seed for a career that would eventually require relocation and sacrifice.
I told them I wanted to box, and at first they didn't want to because I'm the only girl in the family,she recalled.
And then they took their chance on it, they took me to the gym and since then I've just been boxing.
Today, Tellez operates out of San Antonio, Texas, where she represents a state with a rich boxing heritage. She is one of two fighters from Texas on the Birmingham card, alongside Miranda Reyes, continuing a tradition of excellence from a region that has produced numerous boxing greats.
Texas is big, boxing is huge in Texas, that's one of the main reasons I actually moved to Texas,Tellez said.
It's just crazy to see people that I've known since even as a kid be here. And I'm happy for everybody who comes from where I come from to be able to get the opportunity. So best of luck to Miranda and to me.
Tellez's respect for Serrano remains undiminished. The champion recently extended her winning streak with a majority decision over Lucrecia Manzur, retaining her WBA and WBO featherweight titles. According to the BBC, that fight drew 3.4 million total views across TikTok, where it was broadcast live.
You look at everything she (Serrano) has done, she's done a lot for the sport,Tellez said.
She's a world champion for a reason. So you have to always give respect to her too.
Tellez had been scheduled to face Juliana Vanesa Basualdo on the Stephanie Han versus Holly Holm 2 card in May, but that bout did not materialise. The Barry fight represents her return to action and her chance to build on the momentum generated by her Serrano performance.
What comes next
Tellez versus Barry is scheduled for August 29, 2026, as part of the MVPW-06 card in Birmingham. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and ESPN+ in the United States. The main event features Mikaela Mayer against Chantelle Cameron in a super-welterweight unification bout, with Caroline Dubois also in action on the card.
