BOXING
'Stephanie won some rounds, but not six': Holm drops close majority decision to Han in WBA title fight
The Albuquerque legend's title hopes dim after a controversial loss
EL PASO 鈥� The operation was successful, and no one died.
But after a second straight loss to El Paso鈥檚 Stephanie Han, despite some tactical changes that clearly made a difference in the rematch, Holly Holm鈥檚 hopes of becoming the first fighter to win a world title while a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame are on life support 鈥� as is that dream matchup with Irish star Katie Taylor.
That opportunity just might go to Han (13-0, three KOs) after her victory over Holm by majority decision Saturday night at a jam-packed El Paso County Coliseum.
One judge scored the fight even at 95-95. Two saw it 96-94 for Han, who thus retained her WBA lightweight title.
In the ring afterward and later at a postfight news conference, Holm was adamant that the decision should have gone to her.
鈥淪tephanie won some rounds, but not six,鈥� the Albuquerque fighter said. 鈥淭o win a 10-round fight, you need six.鈥�
鈥溾�� If I didn鈥檛 feel I won, I wouldn鈥檛 say I did.鈥�
Asked if Holm felt the judges had been influenced by a crowd that cheered Han鈥檚 every move, she said, 鈥淭he judges shouldn鈥檛 be listening to that. They should be watching the fight. If they鈥檙e doing their job right, it doesn鈥檛 matter how loud the crowd is.鈥�
Judge Wilfredo Esperon, who scored the fight a draw, is from San Antonio, Texas. Judge Sergio Caiz is from California; judge Nelson Vazquez is from Puerto Rico.
It is not as if Holm, 44, is bereft of combat sports opportunities if she wants them. There鈥檚 been talk of an MMA rematch with Ronda Rousey, whom Holm defeated in such memorable fashion in 2015. If Rousey doesn鈥檛 take the bait, perhaps Gina Carano, whom Rousey recently defeated, would do so.
Most Valuable Promotions, which staged Saturday鈥檚 card and to which Holm is contracted, promoted the Rousey-Carano fight.
Holm, though, said she was not giving up on boxing 鈥� including a Taylor fight.
鈥淚鈥檓 open to anything, because I love both sports,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want a big fight. I felt like I did enough (Saturday) to warrant that, and that makes it kind of unsure now. But I want a big fight.鈥�
Han said she believed she鈥檇 done enough to win the fight and deserved the victory.
鈥淗olly definitely made her adjustments and she was better (than in the first fight) and it was definitely a closer fight,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut I felt I was in control.鈥�
The changes in tactics that Holm (34-4-3, nine knockouts) promised would improve her chances for victory after her decisive loss to Han on Jan. 3 in Puerto Rico almost got her there.
Consistently circling to the right, away from Han's right hand that had been decisive for the champion in Puerto Rico, Holm greatly reduced Han鈥檚 punch count compared to the first fight. In fact, the punch stats were essentially reversed from those in Puerto Rico five months ago, this time showing Holm throwing and landing more blows than did Han. But Holm did discover that Han has a sharp left jab as well, mixing in combinations and even an occasional lead left hook.
The scorecards, published on Sunday by the World Boxing Association, provided Han with an early lead that Holm almost, but not quite, overcame.
Caiz's card had Han leading 59-54 after six rounds, then had Holm winning three of the last four. Vazquez's card had it 60-53 for Han after six, then had Holm winning rounds seven through 10. Esperon saw it 77-75 for Han after eight rounds but scored the final two rounds for Holm.
鈥淚 feel like I was dictating the pace,鈥� Holm said.
Holm had weighed in on Friday at 134.7 pounds. Han at 134.6.
Han-Holm 1 in Puerto Rico ended prematurely because of an unintentional clash of heads that produced a cut above Han's right eye. Han again suffered a cut, this time early in the fight 鈥� Han said she couldn't remember precisely when it occurred 鈥� this time just outside the right eye.
The cut didn't appear to affect the flow of what became a progressively more physical fight.
In the night鈥檚 co-main event, Puerto Rican legend Amanda Serrano defeated Germany鈥檚 Cheyenne Hanson by second-round TKO.
Serrano, in retaining her multiple featherweight world titles, improved her record to 48-4-1. Her 32nd victory by knockout tied a professional record held by Hall of Famer Christy Martin. Hanson is 17-3 with 13 KOs.
Most Valuable Promotions announced the show, which featured only women鈥檚 bouts on the main card, drew a crowd in excess of 7,000.
While Han clearly was the fan favorite, Holm did have an enthusiastic cheering section of her own.
鈥淭he fans I have, I'm so thankful,鈥� Holm said. "They've been around for over two decades, honestly, especially from Albuquerque.
鈥淚 have a lot of love for them.鈥�
