EL PASO, Texas (KFOX 14, CBS 4) — On a historic, record breaking night Stephanie Han defeated Holly Holm by majority decision to retain her WBA Lightweight World Championship at the El Paso County Coliseum on Saturday.
Over 7,000 fans packed the Coliseum on a night that featured four world championship bouts. Ticket sales and attendance set a new gate record for combat sport events at the venue.
Lourdes Juarez got the main card started with a split decision victory over Yokasta Valle to retain her WBC Jr. Flyweight Title. Juarez dropped Valle in the 10th round to put the finishing touch on her victory. One judge scored the fight in favor of the challenger, but the other two favored the Mexican, Juarez, 95-94 and a wide 98-91.
Desley Robinson followed it up with a unanimous decision victory over Mary Spencer to defend her unified middle weight title. Robinson dominated the fight from the opening bell and earned a $20,000 performance of the night bonus. Two judges scored the fight a 100-90 shutout for Robinson and the other 99-91. Robinson had been battling an illness since arriving in El Paso, however she did not let that stop her from bringing her belts back home to Australia.
“I wasn’t at 100% purely because I was sick,” Robinson said. “But, a win is a win. We are our own worst critics and I will go back to the drawing board to see what I can do better. This is my division. These are my belts and that is where they are going to stay.”
In the double main event seven division world champion Amanda Serrano faced off against German contender Cheyenne Hanson. The entire sold out crowd stood to their feet and cheered as Serrano walked out to a remix of the Rocky Balboa theme song. From the opening bell, Serrano bombarded Hanson with punches. In the second round, the Puerto Rican had Hanson up against the corner while delivering combination after combination. With 2:25 remaining, the official stepped in to stop the fight. This TKO victory now ties Serrano with Christy Martin for the all-time female knockout record at 32.
“Once the referee said [to Hanson], ‘You got to show me something,’ that is when I went a little crazy,” Serrano said. “It’s over. I got it. First round I was just feeling her out, but when I went back to the corner I said, ‘I got it.’ Second round it was over.”
On Thursday during a faceoff, Hanson popped a bubble of gum in the face of Serrano. This added fuel to the fire coming her way.
“I told her you are going to pay for this and she paid for it,” Serrano said. “The last person who did that to me, the fight ended in the second round and same thing here.”
Then, it was time for the headliner. The former boxing and UFC champion, Holm was showered with boos as she made her walk to the ring. The hometown champion Han walked out alongside El Paso singer Krystal Poppin. The entire arena was on their feet and chants of “Stephanie” echoed around the venue.
Han found success early in the fight, including in the second where she landed a sharp right hand that stunned Holm. In that same round, Han and Holm clashed heads opening up a cut above Han’s eye. A similar cut ended the first fight early, but tonight it continued. After the strong early rounds from Han, Holm found success later in the fight and started to stack some rounds. Han got the better of some exchanges in the final rounds.
It went to the judges scorecards. One judge scored it a 95-95 draw. The other two scored it 96-94, giving the victory to Han by majority decision and keeping the belt in El Paso.
“I think I did enough to win,” Han said. “Holly definitely made her adjustments and she was better [than the first fight]. It was a close fight, but I felt that I was in control and that I had this fight.”
Holm disagreed and many fans disagreed on the decision.
“I do think that she had a few rounds, but not six,” an emotional Holm said. “You have to win six rounds to win a ten round fight. I don’t give her six rounds. I feel it in my heart that I won. It is frustrating because a lot of these judges hadn’t fought before. You leave a piece of yourself in there every time and it is just up to them to take it away from you if they want.”
In the end it was Han’s night and Han’s victory in her city.
“This was the highlight of my life,” the smiling champ said. “Fighting in El Paso with the energy, it was so insane. The first few rounds I couldn’t even think. I couldn’t even process it. I could just hear the screaming, the cheering and the yelling. I never thought that I would have this moment and I did. I am so proud to be from El Paso.”
After the fight, Han called out legendary Irish boxer Katie Taylor. Taylor defeated Stephanie’s older sister Jennifer back in 2021.
“I want Katie Taylor next,” Han said. “I know everyone wants her, but she beat my sister Jennifer Han years ago, and I want to get revenge for her. I came back to boxing to help my sister prepare for Katie Taylor, and it would be an honor to be her last fight. I would go to Ireland for that.”
However, unified lightweight champion Caroline Dubois showed up to the post fight press conference challenging Han to an undisputed bout.
“I don’t want Katie Taylor,” Dubois said. “I want you.”
At the end of the press conference Dubois took to the microphone and looked directly at the champion to ask, “If you don’t get that Katie Taylor fight, who do you want?”
Han responded, “Caroline Dubois if I don’t get the Katie Taylor fight, I want to fight you.”
Now the only time will tell whether Han will get a chance to avenge her sisters loss to Taylor or if she will take on Dubois for undisputed glory. But, Saturday night belongs to Stephanie Han and her city of El Paso.