Holly Holm vs. Anne Sophie Mathis December 2

ByBoxing Press

They may have taken different routes to get there, but four months after promoter Lenny Fresquez originally announced the December 2nd “World Dominance” showdown at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque, it’s full steam ahead for Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm and French superstar Anne Sophie Mathis to decide who is the best female boxer in the world.

“Holly and Anne Sophie are clearly the top two pound-for-pound women boxers in the world,” Fresquez said. “There’s nobody left for Holly to fight in North America and Ann Sophie has eliminated the leading contenders in Europe. This is a natural fight to crown the true Queen of Boxing.

“Between the two of these great fighters, they have won 15 world titles, and are 21-1-1 in fights against world champions. Holly’s the No. 1 light welterweight; Anne Sophie’s the No. 1 welterweight. It just doesn’t get any better than this for fans of women’s boxing anticipating this confrontation. .”

Nine-time world champion Holm (30-1-3, 9 KOs) will be seeking to regain her IBA Welterweight title and WBAN Championship Belt in the 10-round main event against six-time world titlist Mathis (25-1, 21 KOs), who is the reigning the WIBA, WIBF and WBF World Welterweight Champion.

“World Dominance,” presented by Fresquez Productions, is a modern day match-up of contrasting female prizefighters, showcasing a consummate boxer (southpaw Holm) versus a knockout specialist (Mathis).

A world champion in three different divisions (light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight), Holly has defeated virtually all of the significant names of the past decade in women’s boxing from the 140 through 154-pound classes, including Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice). Holm is riding a 24-fight unbeaten streak, dating back to her only pro loss in 2004, when a serious cut under her eye prevented her from continuing to fight.

The 29-year-old Holm sports an amazing 20-0-1 (6 KOs) record in world title fights, in addition to a 14-0-1 mark versus world champions. Her last fight was in mixed martial arts this past September, when she remained unbeaten (2-0, 2 TKOs) by stopping Jan Finney with a devastating kick to the body.

Like Holm, Mathis is another all-around fighter, owning a kickboxing and savate background. She will be fighting outside of Europe for the first time and is currently riding a 24-fight, 16-year win streak since she suffered her only pro loss in her second fight. On Dec. 2nd, she will mark the fifth anniversary of her first world title victory, in which she stopped previously unbeaten Myriam Lamare (13-0) for the WBA crown and vacant EBU championship. Ann Sophie’s victims also include world champions Couch, Yankovich, Ana Pascal and Nathalie Toro.

Since the original announcement of “World Dominance,” Mathis has fought twice, both times in France. In June, she knocked out previously unbeaten Olivia Boudouma (8-0) in the fifth round, and then won all 10 rounds Oct. 1 against cagey veteran Cindy Serrano (15-3-2).