Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm will fight for a major boxing title early next year. Holm is set to challenge unbeaten champion Stephanie Han for the WBA lightweight crown in the co-main event of a card headlined by Amanda Serrano vs. Erika Cruz on January 3 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Most Valuable Promotions confirmed the matchup on Wednesday after ESPN first reported it.
The bout will follow the same format as men’s fights, lasting ten rounds of three minutes each. Female boxing matches traditionally use two-minute rounds, a rule many fighters have long opposed. The upcoming event marks a rare moment of equality in professional boxing’s rule structure.
A Veteran Fighter Returns to Her Roots
At 44, Holm continues to defy expectations and expand her legacy. She recently returned to boxing in June, earning a unanimous decision victory over Yolanda Vega. Before her comeback, she spent a decade competing in mixed martial arts, where she became one of the sport’s most recognizable figures.
Holm’s boxing career began in 2002 and ran until 2012. During that time, she captured multiple world titles, including the WBC, WBF, and IBA belts. Her technical precision and athletic discipline earned her induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022. Holm’s record stands at 34 wins, two losses, and three draws — a testament to her consistency and skill.
The Champion Stands in Her Way
Stephanie Han enters the bout undefeated at 11-0, with a growing reputation as one of boxing’s sharpest technicians. Han claimed the WBA lightweight title by knocking out Hannah Terlep in February and successfully defended it in August with a dominant decision victory over Paulina Angel.
Holm, widely known for her stunning head-kick knockout of Ronda Rousey in 2015 to capture the UFC women’s bantamweight title, now aims to reclaim boxing glory. This clash between a Hall of Fame veteran and an unbeaten champion promises to test experience against youth — and could mark another historic chapter in Holm’s remarkable combat sports career.
