HAMILTON, Bermuda, (CMC) – Bermudian Teresa Perozzi saw her hopes of capturing the vacant women’s IBA world middleweight title shattered as relentless Rhode Islander Kali Reis stopped her in the third round at the Fairmont Southampton resort on Friday night.

The 12-year age gap between the fighters proved significant as 40-year-old southpaw Perozzi, a mother of two, was pounded throughout the one-sided bout by the 28-year-old American.
Reis twice knocked down flat-footed Perozzi, catching her with a well-timed left hook in the first round before sending her sprawling to the canvas again in the second after a vicious right uppercut-left hook combination.
Reis, who weighed in four and three-quarter pounds lighter than her rival, continued to pepper Perozzi in the third round before American referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight, which had been scheduled for 10 rounds.
It was Perozzi’s first bout in more than 18 months, having taken a break from boxing after giving birth to her second son, Gabriel, eight months ago.
Perozzi said afterwards her age played no part in her defeat, admitting that Reis was simply the better boxer on the night.
“I can’t explain it and I don’t know where I went wrong — she was just the better fighter tonight. I don’t think age had anything to do with it. I don’t think having a baby had anything to do with it.”
Perozzi, whose professional record now stands at nine wins, five defeats and three draws, said a rematch clause had been included in the contract, but it was too soon to make a decision on her next move.
“I need to make the right decision for my long-term future,” said Perozzi, whose previous two bouts against American Tori Nelson for the vacant WBC world middleweight title in October 2012 and February 2013, both ended in draws.
Reis, whose record now stands at seven wins, three defeats and one draw, came into the fight having suffered a unanimous-decision defeat to Mikaela Lauren, of Stockholm, Sweden, in her last fight in Valencia, Spain, in July.