Holly Holm was unable to reclaim gold in the boxing ring tonight, and viewers were not happy with the decision.
After her first meeting with Stephanie Han ended in controversy over a clash of heads that led to a cut, Holm was given the chance again tonight in El Paso. A sold out crowd packed the County Coliseum, with Amanda Serrano equalling Christy Martin’s long-standing KO record in the co-main event.
Was Holly Holm robbed in her rematch with Stephanie Han?
Han won the Majority Decision in their second fight in El Paso, was it the right call?
And boxing hall of famer Holm was unable to reclaim gold 13 years after she last held a belt as Han was given the Majority Decision. Two judges had it 96-94, while one had it a draw much to the outrage of fans on social media who branded the fight a ‘robbery’.
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Holly Holm still wants Katie Taylor fight after losing Stephanie Han decision
After a less than stellar showing in their first meeting, Holly Holm will have known that she needed a big performance tonight to make her claim to face Katie Taylor at Croke Park in September. And she did just that with a beautiful counter-punching performance against the unbeaten Texan.
Unfortunately, as often happens in the ring, the hometown decision went the way of her opponent and she now wonders if the Taylor fight is still within range.
“I feel like I was dictating the pace, I do feel like she won a few rounds, but not six,” Holm explained. “You have to win six rounds to win a ten round fight, I don’t give her six rounds and I feel it in my heart that I won, I’m a very honest and self-reflecting fighter. If I don’t feel I won then I’ll say it but I did.
“Here’s what’s frustrating about it; a lot of these judges haven’t fought before. You leave a piece of yourself in there every time and then it’s just up to them to take it away from you if they want. That’s what’s frustrating.
“Every fight, no matter how you perform, dictates what doors open for you. So that’s the frustrating part about it, you pour your heart and soul into it and what’s next? What are my options? When you have a win, more options and on a loss not as many.
“It’s easy for them to go home and sleep at night, but every fight you put so much into it. If I didn’t feel like I did enough, I wouldn’t be saying this. I feel I won the fight… I still want the big fights and to call out Katie Taylor, hopefully I can still do that.”
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