EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso’s Stephanie Han is still the WBA women’s lightweight champion after earning a majority decision victory over Holly Holm in the main event of MVPW-03 on Saturday night at the El Paso County Coliseum.

One judge scored the fight a 95-95 draw, while the other two judges scored it 96-94 in favor of Han, allowing the El Paso native to successfully defend her title for a third consecutive fight.

The rematch came four months after their first meeting ended in a technical decision victory for Han following an accidental headbutt that opened a cut and forced the fight to be stopped after six rounds.

 MVPW-03: Han retains world title with majority decision 

Han started strong in front of a sold-out hometown crowd, landing clean shots early in the fight. However, late in the second round, Han and Holm accidentally clashed heads, opening a cut above Han’s eye.

Unlike the first fight, the bout continued and Han was forced to fight through the injury for the remaining rounds.

“I knew that it was on the side. I knew it was not big, but obviously it does obstruct your vision. The blood was coming to the eye, and then when I would go back to the ring during the breaks, I would see the Vaseline. So I was like, ‘Oh, like, clean it out.’ But you just had to fight through these obstacles,” Han said.

While Han had success throughout the fight, Holm applied consistent pressure and found her target throughout the night.

According to CompuBox statistics, Holm outlanded Han 107-70 in total punches.

Despite that advantage, the judges sided with Han.

Han said she believed she did enough to retain her title.

“I think I did enough to win. Holly definitely made her adjustments, and she was better. It was definitely a closer fight, but I felt that I was in control and I had this fight. Boxing is, it’s how you see it, and according to all three judges, one had it a draw and the other two had me winning. It was a close fight, but I did enough to win,” Han said.

Holm disagreed with the result.

“I’m a very honest and self-reflecting fighter. If I don’t feel I won, I’m not going to say it, and I really feel I did,” Holm said. “Here’s what’s frustrating about it: a lot of these judges haven’t fought before, and you leave a piece of yourself every time. And then it’s just up to them to take it away from you if they want. And it’s easy for them to go home and sleep at night. But every fight, you put so much into it, and when it comes out like that, if I didn’t feel like I did enough, I wouldn’t be saying that. I felt like I won the fight.”

The loss is the first time in Holm’s professional boxing career that she has suffered back-to-back defeats.

For Han, the victory extends her reign atop the WBA lightweight division and sets up several potential high-profile opportunities.

“The next fight I want, I know all the fighters want her is Katie Taylor,” Han said.

However, WBO and WBC lightweight champion Caroline Dubois made it clear Saturday night that she wants a unification bout with Han.

Dubois attended Han’s post-fight press conference and asked the champion directly about a potential matchup.

“If you don’t get the Katie Taylor fight, because let’s be realistic, there’s so many girls in this weight division, everyone’s calling out Katie Taylor, if you don’t get that fight, who do you want?” Dubois asked.

Han’s answer left little doubt she would welcome the opportunity.

“If I don’t get the Katie Taylor fight, I want to fight you. I want to fight champions. You are holding two of the belts, and our goals are to be undisputed. So, if I don’t get Katie Taylor, let’s do it. I’m being serious. I would love the opportunity,” Han said.

Whether her next fight is against Taylor, Dubois or another contender, Han walked out of the El Paso County Coliseum on Saturday night with her title still in hand.

And despite the controversy surrounding the decision, she remains the WBA lightweight champion of the world.

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