HOLLY HOLM CALLS OUT CECILIA BRAEKHUS FOR WOMEN'S POUND-FOR-POUND TITLE

Press Release: Once again, Holly "The Preacher's Daughter" Holm (31-2-3, 9 KOs) is back at the top of the sport after avenging her loss to French knockout artist Anne Sophie Mathis (26-2, 22 KOs) with a unanimous ten-round decision on June 15th in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Unlike her first fight with Mathis, the stylish blonde wekterweight southpaw from New Mexico stayed within her game plan to out-box Mathis, not engage in a brawl like she did last December. If Holm and her promoter get their way, Holly's next opponent will be the only other female boxer mentioned in the same circle today as Holm and Mathis, WBA/WBC/WBO welterweight champion Cecelia "First Lady" Braekhus (20-0 with 5 KOs).  
 
Mathis, who had snapped Holm's seven-year, 24-fight unbeaten streak, lost for the first time in 26 bouts, when she dropped her second professional fight in 1995. 
 
"The game plan was what it was all about," now 12-time world champion Holm said after the fight.  "I wasn't going to stand there and brawl with her all night.  She's a knockout artist (who stopped Holm in the seventh round last Dec.).  I had to play it smart. This was the most important fight of my career, in terms of what I had to overcome.  I had a lot of fears and doubts coming into this, but this was the fight I wanted."
 
During the course of her 10 ½ year professional career, Holm has defeated many of the biggest names in women's boxing from the 140 through 154-pound weight classes, including Mathis, Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice).
 
It's unlikely that Holm and Mathis, however, complete their trilogy, at least in the immediate future, based on Mathis' post-fight comments about wanting to fight Holly in France.  More than 3,000 fans sold-out Route 66 Casino Hotel to watch Mathis-Holm II and the reason the rematch was held in Albuquerque is simply financial.
 
"Anyone who fights Holly always receives their highest payday," Holm's promoter Lenny Fresquez explained.  "This is testament to Holly being one of the few female boxers ever who has the ability to sell tickets like a top male fighter. Why should she go on the road to defend her titles for less money?  That doesn't made good business sense."
 
 
In addition to Braekus and Mathis, Holm's hit list includes five-time world champion Layla "Amazing" McCarter (34-13-5, 7 KOs); another French boxer, IBF/WBF Light Welterweight World Champion Mariam Lamare (20-3, 10 KOs), who lost a 10-round decision to Holly in 2009; WBC/WBA Light Welterweight World Champion Monica "La Gata" Acosta (17-0-2, 3 KOs).