Connect with us

Featured Articles

Ask Ronda Rousey Now If Holly Holm Can Punch!

Published

on

Ronda Rousey won’t be affected by her boxing, Holly Holm isn’t much of a puncher, Ronda will be okay.

Yep, that was a lot of the sentiment going into the biggest and most hyped fight in MMA history this past weekend between bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey 12-0 and former boxer/kick boxer Holly Holm 9-0.

Some even went as far as saying Ronda is a pit-bull and doubted that Holly could even hurt Rousey if she caught her clean. Holm, who was a former professional boxer and veteran of 38 fights, had only scored nine knockouts in the ring. So in the boxing world, Holm was considered more of a technician than she was a puncher.

However, even though women’s combat sports are still in their infancy, having fought 38 times as a pro boxer, one must conclude that for her era and time Holm is an elite female striker.

Having followed and participated in the sport of boxing for exactly 50 years, I’m amazed when I hear it said about world class/elite fighters that because their record isn’t littered with knockout wins, they’re devoid of power.

Statements like that project ignorance and a lack of knowledge. For the last 10 years I’ve had colleagues, friends and fans ask why opponents of Floyd Mayweather just don’t tear after him and take his head off because he can’t punch. In other words, “Mayweather doesn’t win by knockout so he cannot hurt you, so why not just go get him. Take a few of his shots on the way in because it won’t hurt or bother you…then give him a beat-down.’

Oh I love cookbook analysis! I think the same sentiment was going around when Sugar Ray Leonard fought Marvin Hagler. From ringside it looked as if Leonard couldn’t hurt the ever durable Hagler, so it should’ve been a piece of cake for Marvin to just go knock him out. The only problem was, Hagler never could pull it off and lost a close decision.

Here’s a newsflash, elite world class professional fighters can punch, every one of them! No, they’re not all walking life-takers, but they hit plenty hard enough to hurt and control any opponent they confront in the ring or cage. And when fighters the likes of Ronda Rousey aren’t used to getting hit by an elite striker, it hurts. And not only does it hurt, it often times causes them to panic, and that’s what happened to Rousey when two minutes into the first round Holm started to tag her on the way in with lead left hands from her southpaw stance. No, Rousey wasn’t in pain or discombobulated, but she wasn’t liking it and that made her more desperate to try and get close to Holm so she could take her down and keep from getting hit further.

As Ronda panicked from getting hit, instead of stepping back and looking for a counter strike or take down, she became more aggressive and started to move in faster. It was easy to see that she was a little winded after the first round but pressed even harder in the second. The problem for her was, she was coming in more wild and open, which made it easy for Holm to time her and nail her good on the way in. Actually, Rousey was missing and looked like Clubber Lang swatting at air against Rocky Balboa in the rematch of Rocky III.

Soon Ronda was throwing spaghetti arm punches that had no effect on Holly, who could see Rousey was really winding down. Finally, after peppering Rousey real good on the move from different angles, Holly saw that Ronda was nearly flinching while looking to defend herself; Holm staggered her for a second with a left hand and then finished her with a left round kick to the head. Rousey was finished and there was no need for Holm to even attempt to ground-n-pound her…it was over!

The bottom line here is, Holm’s punches bothered Rousey a lot and Ronda didn’t like it. After getting hit cleaner and harder than she had in any other MMA bout, Rousey panicked and came undone. Holm was cognizant of that and kept her cool like she often did as a boxer. Ronda made it easy for her by lunging like a street fighter and being wild, and that led to her getting taken apart and stopped.

As a boxer, Holly Holm isn’t much of a puncher…but put her in with someone like Rousey wearing 4 ounce striking gloves who hasn’t been punched by anything close to an elite striker in the Octagon, well, Holly looked like she hit plenty hard enough to hurt and control someone who was the supposed Mike Tyson of MMA, in Ronda Rousey. So much so Rousey wasn’t even nearly her toughest fight in the ring or the cage.

Yes, the record says Holly Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey with a head kick. However, in the second round Holm stopped and planted, catching Rousey with a beautiful hybrid left that dropped Ronda and basically had her out on her feet and falling all over. When she tried to steady herself the left kick finished her….but had Holly touched her with either hand after the final left, Ronda was going down and out just as she did from the kick.

I wonder if Ronda and her followers still think the 34 year old Holm can’t punch, at least hard enough to prevent Ronda from doing what she wants to do? Oh wait, there’s no need to ask Ronda that because we have the answer via the result of the fight and how it unfolded.

Yes, the former pro boxer who wasn’t considered a puncher knocked out the former baddest woman on the planet with one punch before she erased any and all doubts with a kick to the right side of Rousey’s head.

Holly Holm isn’t a debilitating puncher, but like in the ring, she proved in the Octagon that she punches plenty hard enough to win.

Frank Lotierzo can be reached at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 days ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles1 week ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles6 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles5 days ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 days ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 day ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 day ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 days ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 days ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles5 days ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles6 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles1 week ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending