Holm’s CV has already been drawn up. At 44, the former multi-division boxing champion is trying to win a world title in the ring for the first time in more than a decade. Her absence from boxing coincided with the period when women’s boxing began to receive sustained promotional support after the 2016 Olympics. Rather than remain idle, Holm made the full transition to mixed martial arts, putting together a long run with the UFC and producing one of the sport’s defining moments with her 2015 victory over Ronda Rousey.
Her return to boxing came last June when she knocked out Yolanda Vega over ten rounds on a Most Valuable Promotions card in Anaheim. The move to MVP was a practical one. The promotional outfit became a central force in women’s boxing, and Holm re-entered the sport under stable conditions, rather than on the sidelines.
The central question is age and absence. Holm hasn’t spent much time in a boxing ring in the last decade, and 44 is unforgiving in any combat sport. Han is fresher and younger, but also much less seasoned. In a battle where power is unlikely to decide matters, the edge often goes to fundamentals and comfort under pressure. Holm’s experience in managing laps and pace may still be enough. A decision win for Holm would not be surprising.
Yankiel Rivera vs. Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez
Yankiel Rivera’s rise stalled last time out. The undefeated flyweight was held to a majority draw against Angelino Cordova, a result that preserved his record but chipped away at the momentum he had built. Without a discount or a point deduction, the scorecards might have told a different story. Cordova is a tough assignment, but the game exposed limits that Rivera will have to address.
Jonathan Gonzalez returns after a long absence. The former junior flyweight titleholder has not fought since October 2024, when a first-round injury led to a stoppage loss to Anthony Olascuaga. At 34, Gonzalez is experienced but coming off a layoff and moving back up to 112 pounds, a division where his results have been uneven. His durability has been questioned before, and time away rarely improves that concern.
Rivera isn’t known as a puncher, but he doesn’t need to be. Gonzalez has been more effective at 108 than at flyweight, and the question here is less about skill than condition. If Gonzalez returns to form, the battle could intensify. If not, Rivera’s youth and consistency should see him through. A decision win for Rivera feels like the safest read of the matchup.
