WBA World Lightweight Championship Showdown
In an intense showdown for the WBA world lightweight championship held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Stephanie Han convincingly defeated Holly Holm on Saturday evening. The match came to an abrupt conclusion due to an accidental head-butt that caused a significant cut on Han’s forehead, leading to a stoppage in the seventh round and a judges’ decision being rendered. At the time of the stoppage, Han was clearly in control, having scored heavily against Holm, leading to scorecards showing 69-65, 69-64, and 68-65 in her favor.
Post-Fight Reactions
After securing her victory, Han expressed her emotions, stating, “Obviously I wanted to go the distance, but things like this happen in boxing. I’m thrilled to win, even if it wasn’t how I expected it to end. Holly, you are an absolute legend, and I would love to fight you again in a rematch, whether it’s in El Paso or Albuquerque.”
Holm, a former UFC champion and a veteran in the sport, was aiming for a return to boxing glory but encountered difficulties throughout the bout. The 44-year-old fighter, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017, had previously held multiple world titles across three divisions and was looking to add another accolade to her impressive resume.
Holm’s Comeback Journey
Despite being nine years older than her opponent, Holm (34-2-3, 9 KOs) had made a comeback to boxing after stepping away from MMA, where she famously dethroned Ronda Rousey in 2015. After her split from the UFC in January 2025, she sought to reclaim her boxing career by joining Most Valuable Promotions, signaling her intent to challenge for titles in a fourth weight class.
In her first boxing bout in over a decade this past June, Holm showcased her skills by delivering a dominant performance against Yolanda Guadalupe Vega Ochoa, indicating that she still had much to contribute to the sport.
Fight Analysis
As the fight progressed, Han (12-0, 3 KOs) demonstrated her superior speed and technique, outlanding Holm by an astounding margin of 87 to 29 punches landed, reflecting a hit rate of 26% compared to Holm’s 12%. This effective striking laid the groundwork for a robust performance prior to the fight’s premature conclusion.
The fight adhered to a more rigorous format of ten three-minute rounds instead of the traditional two minutes allocated for women’s boxing, which is a trend being embraced by fighters affiliated with Jake Paul’s promotional company.
Future Prospects
Following the fight, Holm expressed her disappointment, emphasizing her desire for a complete match saying, “Not finishing the fight is the hardest part. She had significant volume, and I was waiting for my moment to assert myself in the later rounds. I didn’t want it to end like this, and absolutely, we can arrange for a rematch; no one wants a fight to finish prematurely.”
As the boxing world reflects on this event, the focus will now shift to possible future matchups, including the potential rematch between these two formidable fighters.
