By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)
(Result / May 30, 2026 / El Paso, Texas)
Holly Holm nearly won another championship at the age of 44 but lost a controversial bout in which she outpunch her opponent by 30 punches, and scored with more punches, in 10 of the twelve rounds against Stephanie Han and in the last three rounds, she landed 40 punches to Han 17 punches to finish strong. The judges had it a majority decision for Han, but I had Holm the winner but that is boxing.
As for the Han fight, Holm stated her case on a recent podcast, “I felt like the first few rounds, it started a little closer, and then I just started to take over and took control of the fight. I felt in control, for the most part. Anything can happen. And obviously, there’s some [punches], like if I pull out [and pull away], and it almost looks worse than what it is. It’s a 10-round fight. It’s not like she didn’t land any shots. I never felt any hard shots that really did a lot, and I know that I was dictating the pace. I know I was the one with more action. I felt like I threw more punches. I know I was in her hometown, but you still have to trust that maybe these judges are going to be professional.” She was right as Compubox had her landing more punches and the more active fighter. There is a saying in boxing, you must take the crown from the champion and in my view she did.
At 44, she is viewing retirement as an option as she sees the end is near and a fight with Katie Taylor may not happen as result of this loss. Whether if this fight happens in MMA or boxing, she noted, “”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.”
Over her boxing, she is presently 34 wins with 4 losses along with 3 draws and her MMA career is 15-7 with her defeat of Rhonda Rousey, making her name in UFC as Rousey came in undefeated and a fighter who ended fights quickly. When boxers fight MMA, it is usually boxing and boxers tend not fight by MMA rules, but Holm decided to take the challenge of fighting in the Octagon.
Her boxing career was a hall of fame career as she is ranked as one of the greatest women boxers with several welterweight titles and even named Ring magazine female fighter of the year twice. Holm became undisputed welterweight title and holder of belts between 140 to 154 pounds when she defeated Mary Joe Sanders and later lost IBA and WBAN titles to the hard slugging French Anne Sophie Mathis. In the rematch, she used his boxing skills to win unanimous decision win over the French KO artist.
Her career included 16 championship fights in boxing and election to the International Hall of Fame, and her defeat of Rousey made her famous in MMA. As a combat fighter, she proved to be a flexible fighter and that is what is most incredible. MMA requires a multitude of skills that includes ground fighting, utilizing both kicking skills and hands whereas boxing depends on the use of hands. Her defeat of Rousey changed her from a boxer who was trying to be a MMA artist to a MMA champion.
Mastering these skills shows athletic skills and Holm showed that in her career. Between the two sports, she has won 49 fights, and we can easily crown Holm, the queen of combat sports, for she has mastered two combat sports, hit the mountain top in both sports. While the judges may have rewarded her with her last fight with her opponent, she is still a championship fighter and I will state for the record, she was the winner of her last fight. Unfortunately, my view don’t count.