In a highly anticipated women’s lightweight bout, Stephanie Han successfully defended her WBA world lightweight title against former UFC and multi-division boxing champion Holly Holm. The fight, which took place on January 3, 2026, at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, ended in a technical decision victory for Han after an accidental headbutt caused a cut, halting the bout at 1:44 of the seventh round.
Han, entering the fight with an undefeated record of 11-0-0 (3 KOs), showcased her superior speed and technical prowess from the opening bell. The 35-year-old champion, ranked as the No.8 women’s lightweight in the world, outboxed the 44-year-old Holm, repeatedly beating her to the punch with sharp right hands and combinations. Han’s impressive performance added another significant victory to her record, bringing it to 12-0.
Holm, a former UFC and WBC, WBA, WBF, IBA boxing champion, entered the fight with a record of 34-2-3 (9 KOs). Despite her extensive combat sports experience, Holm struggled to keep up with Han’s pace and precision. Holm’s last professional boxing match before this bout was over a decade ago, and her ring rust showed as she was unable to consistently solve Han’s defensive and offensive strategies.
The fight was stopped in the seventh round due to an accidental headbutt that resulted in a cut for Han. The judges’ scorecards at the time of the stoppage were 69-65, 69-64, and 68-65, all in favor of Han, reflecting her dominance throughout the bout. Han outlanded Holm 87-29, demonstrating her superior range management and counter-punching abilities.
In the main event of the evening, Amanda Serrano fought through a nasty and swollen right eye to defeat Reina Tellez via unanimous decision. The co-main event, however, stole much of the spotlight as fans were eager to see if Holm could add another remarkable chapter to her unprecedented combat sports resume. Despite the loss, Holm’s legendary status remains intact, and many are already calling for a rematch.
Han’s victory over Holm marks a significant milestone in her career, proving that she can compete and excel at the highest levels of women’s boxing. As the sport continues to grow under the guidance of promoters like Jake Paul, fights like Han vs. Holm highlight the depth of talent and the exciting future of women’s boxing.
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