Holly Holm and Stephanie Han, paired in the main event, fought valiantly before Han prevailed by a controversial majority decision.
Amanda Serrano, fighting in the co-main event, injected history and joy to the event.
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The legendary boxer from Puerto Rico tied the records for all-time knockouts and career victories for a female boxer after she beat Cheyenne Hanson by a second-round TKO. With 49 victories and 32 knockouts, she tied the records held by Hall of Famer Christy Martin.
The crowd cheered Serrano for the feats.
But the night was far from over. The locals were waiting for Han, one of El Paso’s hometown heros who was facing a 44-year-old in Holm.
At times, Holm appeared to be on the verge of becoming a world champion. But Stephanie Han prevailed by majority decision in their rematch Saturday. The expression on Holm’s face was reminiscent of the one she wore after losing their first fight.
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Holm lost that one in January by unanimous decision after a headbutt stopped the bout in the seventh round. But the rematch was far closer than the last.
One judge scored it 95-95 and the two other judges scored it 96-94 in favor of Han, who defended her WBA world lightweight title and improved to 13-0.
“Honestly, I feel like I won the fight,” Holm said.
Han called Holm a legend.
“I know it was a close fight,” Han said, “but I felt like it was enough to win.”
What Holly Holm says after defeat
In a post-fight interview during ESPN’s broadcast, reporter Ariel Helwani asked Holm if she wanted to continue to box.
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“I want to keep fighting if it’s fair. Kind of,” Holm replied. “I mean, it’s a little disheartening at times when you put a lot of work in, and I have dreams in this sport and everything and it’s just kind of frustrating sometimes.
“But I just felt like I was dictating the pace. I feel like I was landing clean shots. And it’s fight. I’m not saying she never hit me, but I definitely did more in the fight. I should have had the win”
What Stephanie Han says after victory
Unlike their first fight, Holm came out aggressive .
“I wasn’t surprised by how she brought the fight to me because I knew she was prepared for this fight,” Han said.
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The margin of victory was thin.
“I know that it was a close fight, but I felt that I did enough to win,” Han said. “I want to give a thank you, a special thank you to Holly Holm. It’s been an honor sharing the ring with you. Thank you so much, Holly.”
Stephanie Han def. Holly Holm by majority decision, WBA lightweight world championship
Stephanie Han beat Holly Holm by majority decision and defended her WBA lightweight world championship in the rematch between the two fighers.
One judge scored the fight 95-95 and two others scored it 96-94 in favor of Han.
The outcome denied Holm’s attempt to become a world champion at age 44. It would have been her first world boxing title since 2013.
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Round 1: Stephanie Han lands the first punch — that jab. She paws Holm with a right too. The chant goes up: “Let’s go Han. Let’s go Han.” Holm moves in behind her fists but nothing lands. They both connect with rights. Holm lands a nice left and Han moves in only to eat a shot from Han. She looks a little tentative. Holm staying on the move quite a bit and Han takes some shots as the round ends. Han 10, Holm 9.
Round 2: Holm opens with a nice left. Holm lefs the lef again. They get tied up and Han staggers backward, then she lands a right. Han looks patient, than fires a right. Han cut over her right eyebow. Oh, now. Reminiscent of the that ended their first fight. Appears to have been opened by a head butt. Nice exchange as the Han lands hard lefts. Han 20, Holm 18.
Round 3: Holm misses with a right and Han capitalizes. Han scores again. They’ve just been circling. Like some light aerobics. Holm lets loose and connects wit ha left. Han mintains her composure and they clash again. Han 29, Holm 28.
Round 4: Holm connects with a straight left. She’s showing much more ugency than Han is. No w they mix it up and Holm lands another left. Hlm connects with the right and Han responds with a combination. Han drils Holm with a left. Holm barrells in and wraps her arms around Han. The crowd boos and blood is running down Han’s face again. Han 39, Holm 37.
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Round 5: Holm trying to dirty it up? It appears to be working as she rushes in and grabs Han. The crowd boos again. Han lands a solid right and Holm responds with a left. Holm appears to be trying to get inside. Han lands a coupld of fights and excites the crowd. Han 48, Holm 47.
Round 6: Han backing up and Holm pressing the action. Holm lands a hard right and follows up with a left. Holm is 44, and she’s got the energy of a boxer 10 years younger. Holm rushes in and takes a right. She keeps barrelling in and Han’s cut opens again as the round ends. Han 57, Holm 57.
Round 7: Holm lands a right and rushes in behind her left. Notable only because the action has slowed. Holm drills Han with a left. Han appears to be struggling with Holm’s aggression. Making good use of that left hand too. Holm 67, Han 66.
Round 8: Holm still showing more urgency than Han. Han looks for her spots, and finds them. But Holm lands a combination and Han remains patiently bouncing on the balls of her feet. They get wrapped up and Han shows more physicality. Han lets a halfhearted combination go. Holm endds the round with a straight lef that hits the mark — Han’s face.
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Round 9: Han connects with a solid right hook. But there’s no immediate followup. No attempt to smother Holm. Holm’s the one taking risks. New chant goes up. “Holly! Holly!” Then boos, which turn to cheers when they exchange punches. Holms showing no letup. Holm instigates some wrestling. Holm 86, Han 85.
Round 10: Holm looks determined and her punches reflect it. She lands a flurry. Holm now circling and firing punches too. Han attempts to come forward and Holm wraps her up. Han running out of time. Holm throws a couple of lefts and wraps up Han again. Holm 96, Han 94.
Amanda Serrano def. Cheyenne Hanson by TKO, unified featherweight world championship
Amanda Serrano tied the all-time record for knockouts and victories by a female boxer when she beat Cheyenne Hanson by a second-round TKO.
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Serrano matched the record of 32 knockouts held by Christy Martin while she defended her featherweight world champion. She also matched Martin’s record for all-time victories by a female boxer while improving to 49-4-1.
Serrano came out tactical, almost cautious in the first round. But in Round 2 she went on the attack and battered Hanson with combinations before the referee stopped the right with 35 seconds left in the round.
Serrano, 44, has said 2026 will be the final year of her professional boxing career.
Round 1: Cheyenne Hanson sporting the pink braids. They match the bubble gum she blew in the face of Amanda Serrano during their faceoff. No hijinks now. Hanson whiffs with a big right, the first chance either boxing has taken. It’s a cautious opening. Serrano lands a couple of lefts. Hanson throws another big righ that misses. She’s not planning to ja her way to victory and Serrano connects with another left. And another. Serrano 10, Hanson 9.
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Round 2: Serrano stalking and Hanson happily circles to her left. Serrano fires her jab and Hanson swings hard and misses. She’ll keep swining for the fences, I imagine. Hanson connects with a hard right and Serrano moves in with a huge combation. Maybe eight punches. Hanson fires back but Serrano looks in controll as he has Hanson in a corner. And the referee stops the fight! It’s Amanda Serrano by TKO!
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Stephanie Han beats Holly Holm, Amanda Serrano sets boxing records
