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When World Boxing Federation
Women’s World Light Welterweight
Champion Holly Holm, 32-2-3 (9),
makes her first defense of this
particular championship on May
11 at the Route 66 Casino Hotel
in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it
will also be her last.
She is favored to defeat
opponent Mary McGee, 20-1 (11),
on Fresquez Productions “Mayhem”
show, but “The Preachers
Daughter” has decided that this
will be her last bout, win or
lose, and that she will in the
future concentrate on her career
in Mixed Martial Arts:
"When we were deciding which way
to go with my future, my
trainer, Mike Winkeljohn, said
it best, “You want to climb a
new mountain.” This thing has
created a new spark in me and
I'm following my heart”, said
Holm in a recent statement.
“I've never been a paper
champion. I've grown so much
every step of the way. I'm in
this fight, on May 11,100
percent; I'm not distracted.
This is obviously an emotional,
spiritual and physical journey
and I'm so grateful for the
people who have supported me. I
just want to fight where my
passion is (MMA).”
Holm, who is also the reigning
WBF World Welterweight Champion,
is by many considered the best
Pound-For-Pound female boxer in
the world. At only 31 years of
age she has had an amazing
career in professional boxing,
and captured no less than
THIRTEEN world titles in three
weight classes.
After re-capturing the WBF title
at Welterweight in a rematch
with Anne Sophie Mathias last
June, Holm moved down in weight
to lift the Light Welterweight
crown with a shutout decision
over Diana Prazak in December.
While she didn’t lose a round in
that bout, Holm will not be
facing a push-over in her first
defense, and final boxing match!
“Merciless” Mary McGee (26)
turned professional in 2005 and
has won various minor titles on
her way to what will by far be
her biggest fight on May 11.
This past December, on the
undercard of Holm vs. Prazak,
she stopped perennial contender
Victoria Cisneros in four
rounds. Cisneros has twice gone
the distance with Holm and lost
a world title-challenge to
Cecilia Braekhus on points, so
the fact that McGee handled her
with such ease underlines the
fact that she will be a major
threat to spoil Holms retirement
party.
"Mary McGee is a bright,
talented boxer who earned this
world title shot”, promoter
Lenny Fresquez said when
announcing the match-up.
“She impressed us all last
December in her fight on the
Holm-Prazak card at Route 66
Casino Hotel. Unlike others that
call-out Holly, only to break
negotiations because they were
never serious, Mary is stepping
up to the plate like a real
fighter." |
