Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm will fight for a major boxing title early next year. Holm is set to challenge Stephanie Han for the WBA lightweight crown in the co-main event of 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 men’s boxing rules, featuring ten three-minute rounds. Female fighters traditionally compete in two-minute rounds, a format that critics have long condemned as outdated. Holm, now 44, has supported equal conditions for male and female boxers and welcomes the change for this title contest.
Boxing Veteran Pursues Another Championship
Holm resumed her boxing career in June with a unanimous decision win over Yolanda Vega. Before that, she paused her boxing pursuits to focus on MMA. Between 2002 and 2012, she captured several major boxing titles, including the WBC, WBF, and IBA belts.
In 2022, Holm earned induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, further cementing her legacy in the sport. Her professional boxing record stands at 34 wins, two losses, and three draws. Despite her dominance in boxing, Holm remains best known for her UFC success, particularly her stunning 2015 knockout victory over Ronda Rousey to claim the women’s bantamweight championship.
Han Defends Her Perfect Record
Stephanie Han enters the bout undefeated, boasting a flawless 11-0 record. She captured the WBA lightweight title in February by knocking out Hannah Terlep and successfully defended it in August with a unanimous decision over Paulina Angel.
The upcoming showdown pits Han’s youthful momentum against Holm’s experience and technical mastery. Fans expect a fierce contest as Holm aims to reclaim her place among boxing’s elite and Han looks to solidify her reputation as one of the division’s rising champions.
For Holm, this fight marks a full-circle return to the sport that launched her combat career — and another chance to make history inside the ropes.
