El Paso champion boxer Stephanie Han never doubted herself entering her fight against former world boxing and UFC champion Holly Holm.
Han proved faster and sharper in retaining her World Boxing Association lightweight title and remained perfect at 12-0 with a technical decision win on Saturday night, Jan. 3, at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The fight was promoted by Most Valuable Promotions.
Advertisement
“The confidence was there because I felt like I had a great training camp and I was ready for anything that I would face in the ring,” Han said after the fight, which was aired live on DAZN.
El Paso’s Stephanie Han lands a jab vs. Holly Holm during their WBA lightweight title fight on Jan. 3, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Han won by decision to improve to 12-0.
Following a clash of heads in the seventh round that opened a deep cut on Han, the bout was halted by the ringside physician and went to the scorecards, declaring Han the winner by unanimous decision (69-65, 69-64, 68-65). Holm dropped to 34-3-3 with the loss.
Han used counter rights, a solid jab and some body punches to keep the left-handed Holm at bay. Holm had a solid round, but then Han took over with her speed and better reflexes and landed 87 punches to Holm’s 29.
Advertisement
“Stephanie followed the game plan so well,” said trainer Louie Burke, who also trained Han’s world champion sister Jennifer Han and Austin Trout of Las Cruces. “She trained hard for this fight, had good sparring partners and she was really focused. Stephanie controlled the fight after the first round.”
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – JANUARY 03: Stephanie Han is checked by a ringside physician after suffering a cut against Holly Holm in the WBA World Lightweight Championship bout at Coliseo Roberto Clemente on January 03, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Han won the WBA lightweight title last February with a first round knockout of Hannah Terlep and defended it in August with a decision victory over Paulina Angel of Colombia.
Han’s fight against Holm was announced last November, setting up a clash between a rising star from El Paso and a combat sports legend from Albuquerque.
Advertisement
“Stephanie was at her best in the biggest fight of her career,” said Han’s manager Bob Spagnola. “She was on point and I think this was her greatest performance on the pro level. Stephanie has really come a long way in her career.”
Stephanie Han of El Paso enters the ring to face Holly Holm for Han’s WBA lightweight title in Puerto Rico on Saturday night, Jan. 3.
On Saturday night, Han made her ring entrance wearing a jacket emblazoned with “915” down a sleeve and a chest patch of the El Paso Police Department, where Han is a police officer and instructor at the training academy. Han was accompanied in the ring walk by El Paso rapper Krystall Poppin who sang “The Moment,” a song inspired by the boxer.
“Stephanie just brought that W home to El Paso, and I couldn’t be prouder to see a fellow 915 queen shining on this level. We didn’t come all the way to Puerto Rico to lose,” Poppin posted afterward on social media congratulating and thanking Han.
Advertisement
What could be next for Stephanie Han?
Han could fight a rematch with Holm and if that happens, expect that fight to be in El Paso or Holm’s hometown of Albuquerque.
Perhaps, Puerto Rican star Amanda Serrano would move up to challenge Han after her featherweight win vs. Reina Tellez on Saturday.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – JANUARY 03: (L-R) Stephanie Han punches Holly Holm in the WBA World Lightweight Championship bout at Coliseo Roberto Clemente on January 03, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The lightweight division is loaded with talent with the likes of Caroline Dubois of Great Britain and Beatriz Ferreira of Brazil.
Han could also move up to junior welterweight, where there are great fighters such as Ireland’s Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron of England.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezptimes on X
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso’s Stephanie Han defeats Holly Holm in WBA lightweight title fight