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One of the most anticipated
rematches in women’s boxing is
less than a month away, as WBF
World Welterweight Champion Anne
Sophie Mathis and challenger
Holly Holm prepares for their
second clash on June 15 in the
latter’s home town of
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
While Frenchman Mathis (26-1, 22
KOs) won their original meeting
in December of last year by
devastating seventh round
knockout, Holm (30-2-3, 9 KOs)
is still considered one of the
best pound-for-pound female
campaigners in the sport, and
without a doubt the second best
in the welterweight division.
In their first fight Holm got
off to a good start and in many
observers opinion nicked the
first four rounds as Mathis
seemed to be assessing her
opponent before taking over from
the fifth.
Holm claims to have strayed from
the fight plan laid out by
trainer Mike Winkeljohn, and
that this won’t happen again in
the rematch:
“I simply didn’t execute it (the
fight plan).
"This time I want to do the good
things I did in the first four
rounds (of the last fight) and
do them even better. A lot of
people are asking if I changed
the game plan. It’s really not a
game plan change, it just let’s
do the game plan”, said Holm at
a recent press conference
announcing the second go-around.
Mathis, however, feels that
whatever happens, the result
will be the same, even if it
unfolds differently, confidently
saying:
“One way or another, the fight
will be different. Either she
will fight differently or I
will. We know each other’s
style. If she backs up, I’ll
come forward. If she comes
forward, I’ll meet her. At the
end of the day I will be the
winner again.”
34-year-old Mathis has not lost
a fight since her second pro
outing in 1995 when she got beat
by the more experienced and
undefeated future world champion
Marischa Sjauw in Holland. Since
then she has captured several
world titles at light welter and
welterweight, and established
herself as the best 147 pounder
on the planet.
Besides the loss to Mathis,
Holly Holm hasn’t been defeated
since 2004, and like her rival
on June 15 she has won several
world championships. She has
actually done one better than
Mathis by winning titles in
three weight classes, from light
welter to light middleweight,
and has a very impressive
overall record in world title
bouts of 18-1-1 (6).
Both women have incredible
credentials, but who will be
able to adjust with most success
when they face each other again.
Will Mathis again prove too
tough and skilled for Holm, or
will Holm fulfill her promise of
righting the wrongs from the
original encounter. And will it
be enough?
This is without a doubt the most
appealing female fight of the
year so far! |
