Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm placed on a classic efficiency in her return to boxing Saturday evening to dominate beforehand unbeaten Yolanda Vega for a transparent unanimous determination on the undercard of Paul vs. Chavez Jr. in Anaheim, Calif.
Holm was getting into the squared circle for the primary time since Could 2013, when she defended the IBA and WBF tremendous light-weight belts towards Mary McGee in Albuquerque to modify her focus full-time to MMA, and appeared to by no means miss the beat.
Holm, now 34-2-3 in boxing, was simply too quick and exact for Vega, who confirmed coronary heart however no reply to Holm’s jabs and heavy left straights. Holm was snug being the counter striker within the ring, making Vega pay for each assault try all through 10 two-minute rounds.
Ultimately, Holm was declared the winner with a 100-90 rating for all three judges.
“I actually cherished MMA for some time however then I began feeling this rising ache of desirous to field once more,” Holm mentioned after the win. “It’s been enjoyable to get again and simply type of get that boxing going once more.”
Holm left the UFC months after dropping to now champion Kayla Harrison in April 2024, and has now received a combat for the primary time since a UFC predominant occasion determination over Irene Aldana in October 2020.
“I needed to complete early but in addition I didn’t thoughts feeling 10 rounds as a result of I do wanna combat for a title and I do know the opposite ladies are going to maintain getting harder,” Holm mentioned. “It was an awesome combat tonight, she’s undefeated fighter so I used to be glad to be up towards anyone that’s robust and put my abilities to the take a look at and see the way it feels once more.”
