On Friday night, Holly Holm dethroned Women’s World Welterweight Champion Anne Sophie Mathis in Albuquerque, New Mexico, exacting revenge after Mathis scored an upset, knockout victory against Holm in their first fight.
In a highly anticipated rematch, Holly Holm evened the score with Anne Sophie Mathis at the Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque as she took home a clear unanimous decision victory. In their original meeting last December Mathis won by brutal knockout, and “The Preachers Daughter” showed amazing mental strength to get right back in with the French power-puncher and pull off the victory.
Unlike their first fight, Holm seemed to be sticking to the gameplan and boxed instead of brawling with the stronger Mathis, who in the first three rounds struggled to cut off the ring while Holm piled up points from the distance. However, in the middle rounds Mathis had more success imposing her will and made it a close fight.
In the final third of the bout it looked as if Mathis might repeat the dramatic ending of the first encounter as she slowly but surely began to close the gap. But this time Holm stood her ground and managed to counter effectively and avoid getting caught by the champion’s hard punches.
Judges Lisa Giampa, David Moretti and Duane Ford scored the bout 96-94, 97-93 and 99-91, the last score being unrealistically wide, in favor of Holm who can now lay claim to the female Pound-For-Pound title.
The new champion improved her record to 31-2-3 (9), while Mathis lost for the first time in almost seventeen years, falling to 26-2 (22). The fight was promoted by Fresquez Productions.
