A Challenging Result in El Paso
For the first time in her illustrious boxing career, 44-year-old Holly Holm has faced consecutive defeats. Following a January bout against Stephanie Han that ended prematurely due to a cut from an accidental head-butt, the rematch held this past Saturday in El Paso, Texas, ended in a disputed majority decision. Holm, who remains convinced she secured the victory in the 10-round battle for the WBA lightweight title, expressed deep frustration over the outcome.
«Life always goes on. You always have to just keep fighting and pushing forward, and life is really blessed,» Holm stated in an interview. «I can't change the path. You can only go forward. So I'm definitely frustrated. Both fights had controversy at the end. It's just disheartening after putting in all that work.»
Concerns Over Officiating and Judging
The judges scored the bout 96-94 for Han on two cards, while the third judge saw it as a 95-95 draw. Holm maintains that while the early rounds were competitive, she gained control as the fight progressed. She also raised concerns regarding the referee’s conduct, noting that she felt unfairly scrutinized compared to her opponent.
«The whole fight, I feel like the ref was just constantly telling me to watch my head,» Holm remarked. «Meanwhile, Stephanie was throwing rabbit punches. There was one time I thought, 'I'm going to pretend just to hit her to see what the ref does.' I didn't even touch her, and sure enough, the ref was on my case. It’s frustrating when you feel the officiating is one-sided.»
Planning for the Final Chapter
While the loss may have derailed a potential high-profile clash with Katie Taylor, Holm is beginning to accept that her storied career is nearing its conclusion. She anticipates having perhaps one or two fights left in either boxing or MMA before stepping away from professional competition entirely by the end of 2026.
«If I'm being really honest, I just want big fights. All of them are big fights for a title. But I'm definitely like, within the year and I'm done. That's where I'm at,» she explained. «I don't want to be one of those people who says it's my retirement fight and then comes back. I'm getting closer to being finished.»
Potential Matchup with Gina Carano
Amidst speculation about her final opponents, a potential fight against Gina Carano remains a topic of interest, fueled by mutual respect. Carano recently publicly praised Holm as the hardest-working female athlete she has encountered.
Regarding a possible bout, Holm noted: «If I ever fought Gina Carano, it would be out of pure respect. We both love this sport and would want to put on a good show. I have a lot of love for Gina; she is a great individual who has done so much for the sport.»