Gabriela Tellez was inspired by older sister’s loss to Amanda Serrano

Gabriela Tellez feels motivated by seeing her older sister, Reina Tellez, fight Amanda Serrano to start the year. 

Gabriela faces Calista Silgado on Friday in a 10-round lightweight bout from the Caribe Royale Orlando in Florida. 

Gabriela, 6-0 (2 KOs), saw Reina step in as a late replacement against Serrano on January 3 to challenge for two featherweight world titles and the lineal championship. Serrano won via unanimous decision. 

“Watching my sister step into a big fight lit something deeper inside me, especially against Amanda Serrano, someone we both admire and look up to,” Gabriela, a 19-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, told BoxingScene. “It reminds me that we’re building something real. It proves that the hard work pays off.”

The younger Tellez is aiming to break out of the mold of other unbeaten fighters. She wants to constantly get better and not use her unbeaten record as a crutch that solidifies her spot in the sport. 

“What’s driving me is growth,” Tellez said. “I want to separate myself from just being undefeated and become known as skilled, disciplined and dangerous. I’m chasing greatness, not just wins.”

Trained by Arturo Ramos and her father, Martin Tellez, she spent this camp in San Antonio. Tellez described her preparation for Silgado, 22-20-4 (16 KOs), as going outside of her comfort zone. She had to make mid-round adjustments, as in this camp she has faced a lot of pressure fighters. 

“Training camp isn’t just about physical work,” Tellez said. “It’s about mental growth.”

Silgado, a 37-year-old from Santiago de Tolu, Colombia, is a veteran. She has fought WBC featherweight titleholder Tiara Brown, current welterweight titleholder Mikaela Mayer, as well as former titleholders such as Jelena Mrdjenovich and Heather Hardy. Despite Silgado having a journeywoman record, she is a credible and crafty veteran who, on paper, is the toughest test of Tellez’s career. 

“I want to build something that lasts,” Tellez said. “I want people to remember the name Gabriela Tellez not just because I fought, but because I competed at a high level every single time.”