Big Fight Preview: Stephanie Han vs. Holly Holm

Big Fight Preview: Stephanie Han vs. Holly Holm

Jake Paul has undoubtedly done so much for women’s boxing. His time and the substantial amount of money he has invested in the female side of the sport have resulted in lives being changed. Maybe for the first time, the women are now being paid what they are worth. Paul has his critics, but nobody can criticise what Paul and his Most Valuable Promotions have done for women’s boxing. MVP will put on another high-profile show this coming weekend in Puerto Rico. A card that features Amanda Serrano and the return of Ebanie Bridges. It also includes a highly intriguing world lightweight title fight, with Stephanie Han defending her WBA lightweight bauble against a legend of two different sports, Holly Holm.

Holm (34-2-3), a former UFC bantamweight champion and multi-time world champion in boxing, returned to the Noble Art earlier this year after a twelve-year absence. The world of MMA was left behind when Holm signed with MVP, and her winning return in June against the previously undefeated Yolanda Vega set up her fight with Han and a chance to once again be crowned a world champion in boxing.

A points victory over Mary McGee in 2013 was followed by a long run in the UFC, the highlight being that sensational upset victory over Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. It was the head kick that shocked the world. However, Holm lost her UFC title, which she had won from Rousey in Australia, to Miesha Tate in in her first defence, and a three-fight skid followed. Holm never quite reached the same heights again after that incredible upset win over Rousey. A mauling defeat to Kayla Harrison at UFC 300 prompted the 44-year-old to make her return to boxing, and she is the betting favourite to beat Han on Saturday night.

Han (11-0) won her WBA world lightweight title with a first-round stoppage over Hannah Terlep in February, and after climbing off the canvas in the opening round, retained her title with a wide points victory over the Colombian challenger Paulina Angel in August in Florida. Han, who also signed to MVP earlier this year, can take her career to another level with a victory over Holly Holm.

After a successful amateur career, Han didn’t fight for ten years. But the bug returned when she was helping her sister, Jennifer, who was training for a fight with Katie Taylor in 2021. The 35-year-old returned the same year with a four-round points victory over Isabel Garcia. Han is now undefeated in eleven professional fights, and she will know a win over Holm would push her into big unification fights with fellow MVP fighters Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper, who hold the WBC and WBO titles between them. Han is the betting underdog, but could be good value to upset the odds. Motivated by the opportunity to change her life, Han might just have enough speed and freshness to turn back the challenge of Holly Holm.