11 hours ago
Former UFC champion Holly Holm shuts out undefeated opponent in boxing return
Former UFC champion and boxing Hall of Famer Holly Holm still has serious skills in the ring.
Holm (34-2-3) stepped through the ropes to compete in boxing for the first time since 2013 in the feature preliminary bout on the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. undercard at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Yolanda Vega came into the bout undefeated, but couldn't get anything going. Holm scored a complete shutout over Vega (10-1) in their 10-round, 137-pound bout, winning with unanimous scores of 100-90.
Even though Holm has spent more than a decade building a championship resume in MMA, she picked up right where she left off in the sport that only allows the use of her hands. Holm was quick on the outside as she worked behind a lead jab. She stuck and moved on Vega throughout the 10-round fight, and reached the final bell with little to no damage.
During her in-ring post-fight interview, Holm, 43, said her goal is to fight for another championship in boxing before she's done. She intends to take it one fight at a time and will be ready for her next opponent as she works toward a title opportunity. "The Preacher's Daughter" admitted she fell in love with the ability to throw kicks in a fight, which is why she decided to leave boxing behind initially.
Holm exited the UFC following a submission loss to Kayla Harrison at UFC 300 last April. Her final victory in the UFC was a unanimous decision win over Yana Santos in March 2023.
In boxing, Holm's winning streak is now four, all by decision, stretching back to 2012 before becoming a full-time MMA fighter. She was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022 for racking up 14 world title wins across three weight classes.
