Albuquerque's Holm, who at age 41 has signed a six-fight contract extension with the UFC, soundly defeated Yana Santos a mere kid of 33 by unanimous decision on a UFC Fight Night card at the AT&T Center on Saturday night.
Judging an MMA fight is incredibly difficult — so many factors to weigh, so little time. Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada, two of three official judges decided Ketlen Vieira s stinging
Combat notes: Las Cruces boxer wins national title; Jones, White squabble abqjournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from abqjournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Aaron Angel Perez, shown in March 2018 before his pro boxing debut, prepares for his biggest pro fight coming up next month. (Jim Thompson/Journal)
Getting a New Mexico boxer to the top rungs of the sport, however talented the fighter, has never been easy.
Bob Foster, Johnny Tapia, Danny Romero, Austin Trout and Angelo Leo, who all would become world champions, had to pay their dues in the hinterlands before getting their big break.
Had Albuquerque promoter Lenny Fresquez not signed Holly Holm to a contract in 2004, Holm’s ride to the top of women’s boxing might have taken far longer and been far bumpier.