News
WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMP HOLLY HOLM HOLDS TITLE AGAINST LARACUENTE
Temecula, CA (February 7, 2008)— IFBA World Champion Holly Holm of Albuquerque, NM, added to her impressive string of wins with a unanimous decision over New York’s Belinda “Brown Sugar” Laracuente Thursday night in a 10-round bout at Pechanga Resort and Casino. Holm notched victory number 21 (21-1-2 with 6 KOs) after holding off the determined challenger, who never allowed Holm to gain much of an advantage over her.
In a night that showed how far women’s boxing has come, the fight topped a three-title IFBA card that had plenty of surprises and outstanding bouts featuring ideally matched competitors that brought the crowd to their feet. Presented by Roy Englebrecht Events in association with Hollybrook Regency Inc, the powerful card, sanctioned by the IFBA, was all it promised to be. All three fights will be featured on FSN’s Best Damn Championship Fight Night Period broadcast at 11 p.m. ET/PT tonight, February 8.
Declared “Fighter of the Year” by the IFBA IN 2006 & 2007, by Ring Magazine in 2006, and by the premier women’s boxing website, WBAN in 2007, Holm showed why by keeping the Puerto Rican off guard, opening a cut over Laracuente’s left eye early on. She fought Laracuente into the ropes on several occasions, only to see her competitor fight her way back into the center of the ring. Things really heated up in the 9th and 10th rounds, with a flurry of punches exchanged, as the 147-pound Welterweight title hung in the balance.
In the end, the judges gave Holm the edge, scoring it unanimously in her favor: 97-93, 99-91, 98-92. Laracuente’s record drops to 23-18-3, 9KOs.
Said Holm, “I think I still controlled and dominated the fight, even though I think I could have been better. It was a great learning experience. I just think I should have followed up when I hit her hard with some shots. It was a different experience for me because we’re both movers, not like the fighters I’ve been up against recently. I think I adjusted well. It’s different trying to cut off the ring and trying to defend against a looping punch rather than one that comes straight at you.”
Holm savored the victory coming only three weeks after crushing Mariem Brakache on January 11 in a 7th round TKO in Albuquerque. She said she was looking forward to sleeping in and taking a short break from training before the next contest.
