At 44, Holly Holm’s window for big fights might be waning.
If the combat sports legend is successful in defeating unbeaten WBA lightweight world champion Stephanie Han by convincing fashion at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday, and live globally on DAZN, it will bring us to DAZN’ News’ third New Year’s Resolution for boxing in 2026:
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Holm (34-2-3, 9 KOs) has long expressed interest in fighting Taylor (25-1, 6 KOs). By defeating Han (11-0, 3 KOs) on Saturday night, Holm could put herself in line to possibly set up a showdown with Taylor, the unified super lightweight world champion.
The fight makes sense for both, with Taylor being a decorated, coronated queen of the ring as a former undisputed world champion in two different weight classes and current owner of the 140-pound WBA, WBO, and IBF titles. Holm is boxing royalty of her own, a 2022 inductee in the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a former three-division world champion. She is also a two-sport force, having reigned as a former UFC bantamweight world titleholder in mixed martial arts.
Holm only worked her way through the possibility of fighting Taylor more last June when she returned to the boxing ring for the first time since May 2013 and soundly shut out Yolanda Vega — 13 years her junior — via a dominant unanimous decision.
In doing so, Holm triumphantly returned to the sweet science, proving how sharp she still is and how much she still has to offer.
The aftermath of her impressive win had Holm conceding that she would be tuning in closely to the Taylor-Amanda Serrano trilogy, which followed a few weeks later in July, with Taylor winning by decision for the sweep of her rival.
If Holm could look as sharp against Han as she did defeating Vega, it would likely drum up the talk for her to fight Taylor that much further.
Taylor vs. Holm later this year would be a must-see legacy fight — greatness on each side.
Matchroom Boxing, the promotional outfit Taylor fights under, has done business with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, which signed Holm last year. So, there is familiarity there.
Taylor has spoken about fighting in Ireland’s iconic Croke Park. Perhaps this is that bout.
It is all within reach as long as Holm manufactures a win over a tough Han first.
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