When Holly Holm steps into the boxing ring for a world title this Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the second carries a weight far past the standard pre-fight hustle. The legendary multi-sport champion will look so as to add a four-division title to her Corridor of Fame resume when she takes on undefeated WBA light-weight titleholder Stephanie Held on January 3, 2026 on the Coliseo Roberto Clemente.
Holly Holm defeats boxing title problem towards Stephanie Hung
Holm, now 44, hasn’t held a world boxing title in additional than a decade. Her final championship combat within the sport was in 2013 when she defended her tremendous light-weight title towards Mary McGee. Since then, she has dominated the UFC, famously profitable the bantamweight title by knocking out Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 in 2015, a second that cemented her standing as one of many best athletes in two sports activities in blended martial arts.
However after almost 13 years away from boxing, Holm signed with Jake Paul’s Most Worthwhile Promotions and returned to the ring in June, defeating beforehand undefeated Yolanda Vega by unanimous choice in a pointy efficiency that urged her boxing fundamentals had not diminished.
Saturday’s problem is totally totally different. Han, 35, has an undefeated file of 11-0 (3 KOs) and received the WBA light-weight title in February 2025 by defeating Hannah Telep by first-round KO. She has by no means taken a take a look at at this degree. Her solely title protection was in August towards Colombia’s Paulina Ángel, the place she endured a first-round knockdown to win a unanimous choice. She is going to now face an opponent with 34 wins over 20 years in skilled boxing.
Holm’s respect for Han is real, however her confidence stays unwavering. In an interview with MMA Preventing, Holm gave his evaluation:
“She’s a sophisticated fighter, she’s undefeated. She does not have as a lot skilled expertise as I do, however she has a protracted historical past. She’s been combating since she was younger. She has a background in kickboxing matches, and I feel she has grit, self-discipline and ambition. I do know that. She’s not the form of fighter who simply goes right into a brawl. She must be a extra calculating fighter. I actually respect her and I really feel like I am higher than her.”
Han’s background explains a few of Holm’s cautiousness. Earlier than turning skilled in 2021, Han spent years working towards martial arts and kickboxing, constructing the technical basis that led to her excellent boxing file. She fought in El Paso, Texas, the place she serves as an eight-year veteran of the El Paso Police Division. Martial arts roots run deep within the household, as his youthful sister Jennifer can also be an expert boxer.
Holm, however, has by no means boxed at light-weight (135 kilos), having beforehand held the welterweight, junior welterweight, and junior middleweight titles. She is chasing unfinished enterprise in a weight class during which she has by no means received a world title.
For Holm, it is a probability to show that age does not decide ring IQ, and that staying out of the highlight for over a decade does not diminish her greatness. Her coach Mike Winkeljohn believes she is boxing higher now than when she received her earlier title. For Han, a win over Holm represents a defining second of legitimacy, the form of opponent whose presence on a resume can elevate a whole profession and pave the way in which for larger unification bouts. Both manner, Saturday night time will reveal whether or not Holly Holm nonetheless has yet one more run left within the championship.
