Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White has gone on record saying the world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization will indeed venture into the boxing world in the near future.
With plenty of unsigned talent around the globe for UFC and Endeavor to scoop up, it’s easy to assume many fighters currently on the UFC roster will be eager to try their hand in the “sweet science.”
Holly Holm won’t be one of them.
The former world boxing champion turned-MMA star says she has no desire to return to the ring despite now having an easy avenue to do both under the same company.
“I am done boxing,” said Holly during a recent media scrum at UFC 218 courtesy of MMA Junkie. “I don’t have the passion for it any more, and it hasn’t come back to me. Maybe that’s because I’m still fighting, so I don’t feel like I ever really retired.”
Prior to turning her attention full time to MMA, Holm made her name in the boxing arena, amassing a 33-2-3 professional record while winning multiple titles, including leaving the sport as the IBA, WBAN, and WBF female light welterweight champion.
She also holds titles at light middleweight, as well.
“The Preacher’s Daughter” had her last pro fight back in March of 2013, scoring a unanimous decision win over Mary McGee just one month after defeating Katie Merrill at Bellator 91.
After her final boxing match, Holm knew it was time to move on.
“I didn’t know how I would feel when that fight was over, with a win if I’d be excited and want to do it again,” Holm said. “With a loss, I’d probably want to do it again, because I wouldn’t want to end like that. When the fight was over, it was beautiful. It was in my hometown and they brought a beautiful bouquet, and I’m standing there, everything was a beautiful moment thinking, ‘I can’t wait to take my boxing shoes off.’”
Since then, Holm — who went on to win the UFC women’s Bantamweight strap by becoming the first person to defeat Ronda Rousey — says she hasn’t had the urge to put her boxing shoes back on.
“And, that’s it. I keep thinking, am I going to ache for it again? And I don’t. And it’s not because I don’t love boxing. I did, obviously. I did it for 10 years professionally. It’s just my new motivation is this new career I’ve been on. So I have no desire to go back to boxing.”
Up next for Holly is a women’s Featherweight title fight against Cristiane Justino at UFC 219 on Dec. 30, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A win over perhaps the most powerful puncher in all of women’s MMA will see her become UFC’s latest two-division champion.
Adding yet another accolade in her already storied combat sports career.