Pound-for-Pound Boxing Queen Holly Holm Preparing to establish ‘World Dominance’; Dec. 2 showdown vs. Anne Sophie Mathis at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque
Boxing’s Pound-for-Pound Queen, Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm, has thoroughly exhausted the list of leading North American challengers, so her promoter, Lenny Fresquez (Fresquez Productions) looked across the Atlantic Ocean to challenge Europe’s premier boxer, French superstarAnne Sophie Mathis. Holm-Mathis will headline the “World Dominance” card on December 2 at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque.
“My fight with Ann Sophie is going to be very tough,” Holly remarked. “She’s a tall fighter who uses her range. A fight like this definitely helps women’s boxing. I don’t want to be a paper champ and boxing fans don’t want to see one. On December 2nd they’ll see the top two rated women boxers in the world. My pride will be on the line because I’ve always believed you need to beat the best in order to be the best. I’ve never wanted easy fights. Winning a challenge like this makes it an even sweeter victory.”
Holm (30-1-3, 9 KOs) will be gunning to regain her IBA Welterweight title and WBAN Championship Belt in the 10-round main event against Mathis (23-1, 20 KOs), the WBO European Welterweight Champion. “World Dominance,” presented by Fresquez Productions, is a modern day match-up of contrasting female prizefighters, showcasing a consummate boxer (southpaw Holm) versus a knockout specialist (Mathis).
A multiple world champion in three different divisions (light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight), Holly has defeated virtually all of the significant names of the past decade in women’s boxing from the 140 through 154-pound classes, including Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice). Holm is riding a 24-fight unbeaten streak, dating back to her only pro loss in 2004, when a serious cut under her eye prevented her from continuing to fight.
The 29-year-old Holm sports an amazing 20-0-1 (6 KOs) record in world title fights, in addition to a 14-0-1 mark versus world champions.
“There will always be somebody out there good to fight, maybe an up-and-comer or somebody overlooked” Holm said, “but I believe I’ve fought the best here but two European fighters (Mathis and Cecilia Braekhus) are good options for me. I haven’t fought either one, yet, and they’re both very good.
“Women are constantly trying to prove themselves to boxing fans. We put our heart into fighting each time we step in the ring. The top women fights are better than a lot of men’s fight on TV.”
Mathis, who will be fighting outside of Europe for the first time, is currently on a 22-fight, 16-year win skein, since she suffered her only pro loss in her second fight. She’s a two-time world light welterweight champion and Dec. 2 will mark the fifth anniversary of her first world title victory, in which she stopped previously unbeaten Myriam Lamare (13-0) for the WBA crown and vacant EBU championship. Ann Sophie’s victims also include world champions Couch, Yankovich, Ana Pascal and Nathalie Toro.
Holm is expected to fight WBC/WBA/WBO welterweight champion Cecilia ‘First Lady”Braekhus (18-0, 4 KOs) next year.
