Holm Left Frustrated After Majority Decision Loss To Han

Holly Holm has spoken out after being denied a boxing world title in controversial circumstances for the second time against Stephanie Han, with a majority decision going the way of the hometown fighter in El Paso.

Two judges scored it 96-94 for Han while a third had it a draw — a split that reflected the competitive nature of the contest but produced an outcome that left the sold-out County Coliseum crowd and viewers on social media deeply unhappy.

Holm, 13 years removed from her last boxing title, delivered the kind of counter-punching display she knew she needed and still left without the belt. Holm was measured but emotional in her post-fight comments, making clear she believes the result was wrong.

"I feel like I was dictating the pace, I do feel like she won a few rounds, but not six. You have to win six rounds to win a ten round fight, I don't give her six rounds and I feel it in my heart that I won. I'm a very honest and self-reflecting fighter. If I don't feel I won then I'll say it but I did,” Holm

The broader frustration she expressed went beyond this specific result: "Here's what's frustrating about it — a lot of these judges haven't fought before. You leave a piece of yourself in there every time and then it's just up to them to take it away from you if they want."

On what the loss means for her options going forward: "Every fight, no matter how you perform, dictates what doors open for you. So that's the frustrating part about it, you pour your heart and soul into it and what's next? When you have a win, more options and on a loss not as many."

The Katie Taylor fight at Croke Park in September — a bout that would have been a natural landing spot following a title win — now sits in a more uncertain position. Holm made clear she has not given up on it: "I still want the big fights and to call out Katie Taylor, hopefully I can still do that." Whether Taylor's camp and Eddie Hearn view the situation the same way after a majority decision loss to an unbeaten Texan in a hometown decision is the question Holm now has to wait on.