ALBUQUERQUE, NM
(November 23, 2011) - "World Dominance" features the top
two women's boxers in the world, American favorite Holly
"The Preacher's Daughter" Holm (30-1-3, 9 KOs) and
French knockout specialist Anne Sophie Mathis (25-1, 21
KOs), in arguably the No. female fight of all-time.
"World Dominance," presented by Fresquez Productions,
will be held Friday night, Dec. 2 at Route 66 Casino
Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Holm-Mathis
10-round bout will be contested for the IBA Welterweight
title and WBAN Championship Belt, as well as to
determine the mythical No. 1 pound-for-pound world
championship today in women's boxing.
Veteran Lenny Fresquez has promoted Holm throughout her
pro boxing and MMA career and he is also promoting
"World Dominance." Fresquez sat on the hot seat to
answer questions about Holm, Mathis, female boxing and,
of course, "World Dominance"
How significant is "World Dominance" for Holly as well
as women's boxing?
"This fight will confirm that Holly is unquestionably
the No. 1 female fighter in the world. It is important
for women's boxing because they are the top two women in
boxing today with 15 world titles between them. Holly
has nine and she set a world record when she held all of
the 147-pound belts except for the WBO.
"There are only three players today in women's boxing -
Holly, Sophie Ann and Cecilia Braekhus (18-0, 4 KOs -
WBC, WBO & WBA welterweight champion). Mathis is the
bigger puncher of the three and she has the best
knockout ratio. But she has no fan-base in France or a
promoter. She's hard to promote because she isn't very
charismatic and unable to speak English. Sauerland has
done a great job promoting Braekhus, making people
believe she's a real world champion. She's not in the
same league as Holly, which is why we chose to fight
Mathis first. "It's a harder fight and we wanted to get
that one out of the way first."
What's next for Holly after this fight?
"As Holly's promoter, I'm always looking ahead to the
next deal, but Holly's not looking past Mathis. That's
my job and I think we have three possible options for
Holly's next fight. 1. Braekhus won't come here but we'd
love to fight her in March. 2. If this is a good fight,
we can always have a rematch with Mathis. 3. Holly can
have a big MMA fight.
"The only way I'd even think about Holly fighting
Braekhus in Europe - she likes to fight in Denmark -
would be under fair terms and conditions that would
include a good purse and neutral judging. We've
submitted a contract to Team Braekhus and we're waiting
for a response. We may go in another direction of we
don't receive a signed contract by the day of the
Holm-Mathis weigh-in. We've never waited on, or will
wait on anybody. Holly's career has always been well
planned every year. We will make plans after this fight
for her in 2012."
How does Holly rate all-time in women's boxing?
"To me, she's the best ever. The only other female
fighters in her league, all-time, are Ann Wolfe, Regina
Halmich and, maybe, Sumya Anani. Laila Ali fought on her
father's last name and she wasn't nearly as good as
these fighters. There's nobody else."
How frustrating is it not to be able to watch Holly
fight on HBO or Showtime?
"She's fought on ESPN and Telefutura, but HBO and
Showtime have no interest in Holly or women's boxing.
Hopefully, the new head of HBO boxing will. Spanish
boxing fans are interested in watching Holly fight
because they've watched her grow-up here (New Mexico).
People don't understand the economics of promoting an
ESPN show. First, it affects the gate, and ESPN doesn't
pay like it used to. Between rooms, meals and other
costs for ESPN, it doesn't pay for half of the main
event purse. At the beginning of her career, Holly
fought on ESPN for the exposure. Now, everybody knows
Holly Holm, so we try and make the most money. It's
upsetting to see the top pound-for-pound men's fighters
like (Manny) Pacquiao and (Floyd) Mayweather make
millions and millions of dollars, while the top
pound-for-pound female fighters don't even make a
fraction of one-percent compared to men."
Are you tired of criticism leveled at Holly for only
fighting in Albuquerque?
"Yes. They paid us well to go to Detroit to fight Mary
Jo Sanders in a rematch. It ended in a draw and Sanders
retired after that fight. Holly's also fought in
Colorado and California. We'll fight anybody, anywhere,
anytime....as long as the money is right. That's always
been the problem, so why fight for less money?
"People here love watching her fight and she has a great
fan-base. We'd love to kill that stigma by fighting
elsewhere, but it all comes down to economics. There are
probably only 25 male fighters in the United States who
put as many people in seats as Holly does in
Albuquerque."
Holly "The Preacher's Daughter" Holm
Holm is a nine-time world champion in three different
divisions (light welterweight, welterweight and light
middleweight) and the 29-year-old boxer has an amazing
20-0-1 (6 KOs) record in world title fights, in addition
to sporting a 14-0-1 mark versus world champions. She
has fought and beaten virtually all of the notable names
of the past decade in women's boxing, from 135 through
154-pound classes, including Christy Martin, Mary Jo
Sanders, Mia St. John, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and
Chevelle Hallback (twice). Holly 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.
Ann Sophie Mathis
A six-time world titlist, Mathis is the reigning the
WIBA, WIBF and WBF World Welterweight Champion. She has
won 24 consecutive bouts, dating back 16 years to her
only pro loss in her second pro fight. Her Dec. 2nd
showdown against Holm will mark the fifth anniversary of
Ann Sophie's first world title win, in which she stopped
previously unbeaten Myriam Lamare (13-0) for the WBA
crown and vacant EBU championship. Mathis' victims also
include world champions Couch, Yankovich, Ana Pascal and
Nathalie Toro.
For more information about "World Dominance: Holm vs.
Mathis" go on line to www.FresquezProductions.com.