Boxing In America: Friday Night Results

Welterweight Holly Holm was in action last night at her stomping grounds of the Isleta Casino in Albuquerque, NM where the 27 year old southpaw defeated opponent Myriam Lamare on points after ten rounds of combat.

The local southpaw retained her WIBF title in a difficult battle with French slugger Lamare, a former WBA Light Welter Champion who had only come up short in world title fights against the world's top light welter, Anne Sophie Mathis.

Holm saw things go her way early on as she put her greater height and reach to good use, keeping her 34 year old Continental foe at arm's length.

But Lamare's persistence paid off in the later rounds as she closed distance and found the champion with a lot of shots but Holm's early lead proved too much to overcome as she swept the cards by scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 96-94.

Holm improves to 23-1-3 (6) and adds Lamare's name to a resume that includes wins over Mary Joe Saunders, Chevelle Hallback, Ann Saccurato, Jane Couch, Mia St. John, Christy Martin and Belinda Laracuente.

Hard-nosed Lamare sees a three bout win streak evaporate as she falls to 16-3 (9).

On the undercard, light middle prospect Joseph Gomez, 16-1-1 (8), pounded out veteran Jose Luis Cruz, 12-15-3 (12), in the fourth round of a scheduled eight.

Middleweight Elvin Ayala, 19-3-1 (8), returned to the ring for the first time since losing a bid to unseat IBF Champion Arthur Abraham in Germany last year by outpointing Anthony Bartinelli, 20-11-2 (13), at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.

Also on the bill, cruiserweight contender BJ Flores, 22-0-1 (14), stayed busy with a third round stoppage of heavyweight Matt Hicks, 13-4 (12).

At Cicero Stadium in suburban Chicago, IL, light welter Ivan Popoca, 9-0-1 (7), defeated Daniel Garcia, 9-6-1 (7), in a six rounder.