Holly Holm Set to Contend for WBA Lightweight Championship in Landmark Boxing Return

San Juan, Puerto Rico – Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s bantamweight champion, Holly Holm, is slated to challenge Stephanie Han for the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title on January 3. The high-profile bout will serve as the co-main event for a card headlined by Amanda Serrano versus Erika Cruz, taking place at the iconic Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), will be broadcast live exclusively on DAZN.

The announcement, made by MVP on Wednesday, marks a significant moment in Holm’s illustrious combat sports career. "The Preacher’s Daughter" will step back into the boxing ring to compete for a major world championship, an endeavor she last pursued over a decade ago before fully transitioning to mixed martial arts. This championship contest is notable for its adherence to men’s boxing rules, featuring 10 three-minute rounds, a progressive move within women’s professional boxing.

Holm’s return to championship boxing comes after a triumphant, albeit non-title, boxing comeback in June. In that contest, held on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. event, Holm secured a decisive victory over Yolanda Vega via lopsided decision. That fight signaled her readiness to once again compete at boxing’s elite level, setting the stage for this WBA lightweight title challenge against the undefeated Stephanie Han.

Before her foray into the UFC, where she famously dethroned Ronda Rousey to capture the bantamweight title, Holm established an unparalleled legacy in professional boxing. Her boxing career, which spanned from 2002 to 2013, saw her become a multiple-time world champion across three different weight classes. Holm successfully defended her various titles a remarkable 18 times, showcasing her dominance and technical prowess in the sweet science. Her achievements earned her the prestigious Ring Magazine fighter of the year award on two occasions, and she was rightfully inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022, a testament to her enduring impact on the sport. Her professional boxing record stands at an impressive 33-2-3, with 9 knockouts, reflecting a career built on strategic striking and consistent performance.

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Her opponent, Stephanie Han, presents a formidable challenge. Han enters the bout with an unblemished professional boxing record of 11-0, including one knockout. She captured the vacant WBA lightweight title in February with a first-round knockout victory over Hannah Terlep, demonstrating her power and efficiency. Han subsequently made her first successful title defense in August, securing a unanimous decision win against Paulina Angel. At 35 years old, Han has shown consistent improvement and a tenacious fighting spirit, making her a legitimate threat to Holm’s aspirations for a multi-sport championship legacy. Beyond her athletic achievements, Han has been recognized by MVP as a "multi-faceted athlete," balancing her championship boxing career with her roles as a mother and a police officer, adding a compelling personal narrative to the upcoming fight.

In a joint statement regarding the event, Most Valuable Promotions co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Badarian emphasized the significance of Holm’s return and the broader implications for the sport. "Holly Holm is back challenging for a boxing world title, 12 years after leaving the sport and doing it with MVP," the statement read. "She is facing a multi-faceted athlete in Stephanie Han who is a champion, a mother, and a police officer. And they are doing it with 3-minute rounds like the men. Joining them are an array of Puerto Rican standouts, including MVP’s own Yankiel Rivera, Jan Paul Rivera, and Krystal Rosado, representing the island’s next generation of greatness and demonstrating MVP’s commitment to pushing the sport forward through equality, opportunity, and world-class fights for fans around the globe, live only on DAZN."

The decision to feature 10 three-minute rounds for the women’s lightweight title bout is particularly noteworthy. Traditionally, women’s professional boxing matches have been contested over two-minute rounds, often limiting the strategic development and overall intensity of contests compared to their male counterparts. The adoption of three-minute rounds in such a high-profile championship fight signals a growing movement towards greater parity and opportunity within women’s boxing, aligning with the efforts of promoters like MVP and prominent figures like Amanda Serrano, who has been a vocal advocate for the change. This rule modification allows for more sustained action and offers fighters more time to establish their rhythm and execute their game plans, potentially leading to more definitive and exciting finishes.

The January 3 card is poised to be a landmark event for women’s boxing, with the main event featuring Puerto Rico’s own Amanda Serrano, the unified WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO featherweight champion, defending her titles against Erika Cruz. Serrano, a seven-division world champion, has been a trailblazer for women’s combat sports, and her presence at the top of the card further elevates the significance of Holm and Han’s co-main event. The inclusion of promising Puerto Rican talents such as Yankiel Rivera, Jan Paul Rivera, and Krystal Rosado on the undercard also underscores MVP’s commitment to developing local talent and fostering a vibrant boxing scene in the region.

At 42 years old, Holm’s pursuit of another world boxing title speaks volumes about her enduring dedication and elite athletic conditioning. Her ability to transition between the highly demanding disciplines of boxing and mixed martial arts at the highest level is a rare feat, cementing her status as one of combat sports’ most versatile and accomplished athletes. Should she defeat Han, Holm would further solidify her unique position in sports history, adding another boxing world championship to her already impressive collection, twelve years after many believed her professional boxing chapter had concluded. The fight represents not only a personal quest for Holm but also a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of women’s professional boxing, pushing boundaries and setting new standards for competition and equality.