Holly Holm calls for big fight against Katie Taylor in Ireland.
Holly Holm, the boxing and MMA legend, has openly expressed interest in a high-profile boxing showdown against Irish superstar Katie Taylor and she says the bout would be even more special if it takes place in Ireland.
Holm’s comments have sparked fresh excitement among boxing fans, as the idea of two of the sport’s most respected female fighters meeting in the ring gains momentum.
Holm, returned to professional boxing with the aim of capturing a fourth divisional world title after an impressive career in MMA where she also became UFC champion. She’s set to challenge WBA lightweight titleholder Stephanie Han in Puerto Rico, with victory potentially positioning her for the massive fight she’s now publicly chasing.
“I love women’s boxing because I always will respect it, always will be thankful for it and my whole journey with it,” Holm told MMA Fighting. “But when Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fought at [Madison Square Garden] and sold it out, it’s like that’s the weight class I never really got to fight in when I was in boxing before. That would be cool if I’d be able to go back and fight one of these girls. Didn’t know if I’d ever actually make it back to boxing but here we are.”
She scored a unanimous decision win this past June in her first fight back in boxing and now Holm attempts to capture a title in her second comeback appearance.
“I didn’t want to come back just for like ‘oh it kind of sounds fun’ or maybe this fight,” Holm explained. “It’s like let’s get ranked and fight for a title and try to fight one of the biggest names out there. It’s not that I’m new to boxing but it’s just been a while since I’ve been boxing. So to come back we wanted to be able to jump in it and just go all out.
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“I don’t think, I know — one of the main things I wanted to do in my career is fight the best and currently. I wanted to fight them while they’re currently ranked, not later. Not after. I wanted to take on the best when they are the best. For the majority, 90 percent of my career has been like that. As soon as I got a belt in boxing, all of them were belts, all of them were highly ranked currently when I fought them.”
A fight between Holm and Taylor carries huge significance for women’s boxing. Taylor, 39, is one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes, she is an Olympic gold medalist and former undisputed lightweight champion who headlined major events, including her celebrated trilogy with Amanda.
Holm noted that fighting Taylor in Ireland would be amazing, highlighting not just the sporting significance but also the cultural impact of such a matchup in front of passionate Irish fans.
While no official negotiations or dates have been announced, Holm’s comments have reignited conversations about the possible fight, with promoters and boxing fans alike considering the commercial and sporting potential of the matchup.
Holm’s focus remains on her immediate title shot against Han, but victory there could put her right in position for the blockbuster Taylor fight she has described as a dream scenario.
“I would love that,” Holm said about fighting Taylor. “It would be amazing. The thing I’ve been saying through this camp now is I’ve got goals and dreams and my goal is to win this fight. This is the only thing I’m promised. This is the only opportunity I’m promised because that’s next fight in front of me. I need to win this in order to have the next door open. But I would love to have this fight, my goal is win this fight and my dream is to have a big fight like that over in Ireland. I have Irish heritage of my own and to be able to go over there, fight the biggest name.
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“There was kind of talk but not really when she was first leaving the Olympics and maybe going to turn pro but she stayed longer to go back to the Olympics and I was boxing at the time. There was actually talk back then, it was probably never going to happen. Maybe that’s the fight that’s always meant to happen but better to happen now than before on such a bigger stage and more eyes watching. She’s made a name for herself and all of her accolades and what she’s done with her career as well as mine, to be able to meet now would be amazing.”
“She’s been able to do a lot in her career,” Holm said about Taylor.
“Going to the Olympics and then having such a career that she’s had in professional boxing. Headlining Madison Square Garden, things that women have never been able to do before, she’s done a lot.
“I have done a lot in my career and made a name for myself. We’ve both been grinding and making a name for ourselves. To be able to meet and go head to head would be amazing.”
Holm, meanwhile, is already a legend in her own right, before transitioning to MMA, she enjoyed a successful boxing career and is now trying to add even more historic milestones to her record. A matchup with Taylor would see two generations of elite fighters clash and could potentially be one of the biggest women’s fights in history.
