Holly Holm is considering the long run, and there’s one title on the high of her record. Earlier than the Corridor of Famer steps into the ring to face undefeated WBA light-weight champion Stephanie Han on January 3 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Holm is already plotting a dream matchup that’s been brewing for over a decade.
Holly Holm Wants Katie Taylor
In an interview with MMA Combating forward of her comeback struggle, Holm made no secret about what comes subsequent. “My purpose is to win this struggle. That is the one factor I’m promised. That is the one alternative I’m promised, as a result of that’s the following struggle in entrance of me. I have to win this to be able to have the following door open,” Holm stated. “However I might like to have this struggle. My purpose is win this struggle, after which my dream is to have an enormous struggle like that over in Eire.”
That large struggle is Katie Taylor. The Irish famous person has been busy stacking accolades since turning skilled in 2016, turning into an Olympic gold medalist and the undisputed ladies’s light-weight champion at 135 kilos. She’s headlined Madison Sq. Backyard, made historical past for the game, and most just lately beat Amanda Serrano for a second time final summer season. Holm sees Taylor as the last word take a look at and the platform she’s been chasing.
Interestingly, this matchup isn’t new territory. Conversations about Holm versus Taylor almost materialised again in 2013, when the Irish boxer was transitioning from the Olympics to the skilled ranks whereas Holm was nonetheless boxing. “There was type of like speak – however not likely – of when she first was leaving the Olympics and going to possibly flip professional,” Holm defined.
“I used to be nonetheless boxing on the time, and there truly was even speak again then. Perhaps that’s the struggle that’s at all times meant to occur, however higher to occur now than earlier than, when it’s such an even bigger stage and extra eyes watching, and he or she’s made a reputation for herself and all of her accolades and what she’s performed together with her profession, in addition to mine.”
Holm brings real respect for what Taylor has completed. “Completely not loopy. I believe that’s… you understand, she’s been in a position to do so much in her profession – going to the Olympics after which having such a profession that she’s had in skilled boxing, combating, headlining Madison Sq. Backyard, issues like that that ladies have by no means been in a position to do earlier than. She’s performed so much, in addition to I’ve performed so much with my profession and made a reputation for myself.”
There’s additionally a private aspect to this. Holm has Irish heritage of her personal, which provides one other layer to her fascination with the struggle. “You understand, I’ve Irish heritage of my very own, and to have the ability to go over there, struggle the largest title… it could be wonderful,” she stated. A bout between two of fight sports activities’ most embellished fighters, contested on Irish soil with the worldwide highlight shining, represents precisely the type of legacy-defining matchup that appeals to Holm at this stage of her profession.
However first, Holm has quick enterprise to deal with. Han, the 35-year-old El Paso police officer and mom, is available in undefeated at 11–0 with three knockouts. She captured the WBA title in February with a devastating first-round knockout of Hannah Terlep, then proved her mettle in August by rallying from an opening-round knockdown to defeat Colombia’s Paulina Ángel by determination. That is precisely the type of championship-level take a look at Holm wished in her return after a twelve-year absence from boxing.
“We both have been grinding and making a name for ourselves, and for us to be able to meet and go head-to-head would be amazing,” Holm concluded about Taylor. First, though, she’ll aim to become a four-division world champion. Win or lose on Saturday night, the conversation about that Irish dream will only intensify.
