The fight was competitive from the opening bell, but it slowly tilted towards Stephanie Han as the rounds progressed. Holm, 44, showed early poise in her return to high-level boxing, working behind her southpaw jab and straight left as she circled the ring. Her timing was sharp early, and she got clean counters that reminded observers why she once held titles across multiple divisions.
Han responded by doing what she does best. She pushed forward, closing distance and starting to release her right hand with more frequency. From the second round, Han’s output began to separate the fight. She stepped into Holm’s longer shots, landing overhand rights and working to the body whenever Holm slowed along the ropes. The exchanges weren’t one-sided, but Han’s activity gave her clear swathes of control.
Between rounds two and six, Han consistently took Holm out and snapped her head back with straight rights and short combinations in close. Holm remained dangerous and calm, but she struggled to keep the pace down as Han continued to initiate exchanges and finish them with authority. Reported hitting numbers reflected that trend, with Han holding a wide lead in shots landed over rounds completed.
The fight came to an abrupt end in the seventh when an accidental headbutt opened a deep gash along Han’s forehead near the hairline. After a ringside examination, the doctor ruled that the match should be stopped at 1 44 of the round, sending the fight to the scorecards.
Afterwards, both fighters expressed interest in rematching. Han suggested El Paso as a possible site, while Holm mentioned Albuquerque. Han praised Holm’s durability and experience, calling her a legend, while Holm acknowledged Han’s volume and pressure.
The win was Han’s second successful title defense and moved her to 12 0. Holm, seeking a fourth division boxing title, dropped to 34 3 3. The bout added substance to the MVP promoting all women’s card streamed on DAZN.
