Holly Holm on boxing Ronda Rousey: 'It's a whole different world'
Before Holly Holm was an undefeated prospect in MMA and a co-main event fighter at UFC 184, she was a boxing champion in multiple weight classes.
With a 33-2-3 record overall, Holm was regarded as one of the top boxers in the sport and twice was named Ring Magazine fighter of the year. She held a laundry list of professional titles over the years, including championships for the WBA, WBC and IBA prior to making her full-time move to MMA.
Despite all those accolades, Edmond Tarverdyan, the coach for UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, recently said that he believes the former Olympian could top Holm if they ever engaged in a pure boxing match.
"Ronda beats Holly in a boxing match. I don't believe it, I know so and I believe in my fighter a lot," Tarverdyan told reporters at an open media session prior to UFC 184.
Holm responded to Tarverdyan's claims when speaking to FOX Sports recently and while the former boxing champion has every right to believe she's far superior to Rousey when it comes to the "sweet science," she opted to take the high road when talking about facing the UFC women's bantamweight champion in the squared circle.
"I took no offense because her coaches and her team behind her have faith in her and I think that's how it should be," Holm said. "That is how it's supposed to be. I feel like my coaches and my team are so confident in me and they should be.
"So I took no offense to it, but I don't really know if they understand how different a boxing fight is from MMA. That's really bold to say because that's like saying I could go into a jiu-jitsu tournament and I'm going to armbar Ronda Rousey. That is a lot to say."
Tarverdyan has worked with several pro boxers so he's well versed in the sport, but Holm can't help but point out just how different her former sport is from the rules and strategy involved with MMA.
Holm spent most of her life boxing before transitioning to MMA and it's still very much a work in progress.
"I am not that type to talk about it, but I mean boxing's very different," Holm said. "Style wise if you really look at it, she's definitely getting very good at a lot of her striking and there's no way I would ever look past it. Anything can happen in there.
"So I'm not even going to talk as confident as they are, but in a fight and that fight style you can't clinch and Judo throw and can't hold on while they are punching. There's inside boxing, there's a whole different rule set and mind-set and there's a whole different game plan and it's a whole different world."
Holm has complimented Rousey on several occasions when speaking about her dominant run in the UFC. She also has openly stated that despite her new career in the UFC and placement in the UFC 184 co-main event, a fight with Rousey at this point still would be a little premature.
Holm believes the same to be true if Rousey ever decided to lace up the gloves and step into the boxing ring with her. There's a chance Rousey could be a boxing champion if she put in the time and dedication, but she's not there yet.
"I feel like that's a lot to say if you've never ever experienced that. You've never had a professional boxing fight, I feel like that's a lot to say, but I would never expect them to feel any differently," Holm said. "They should feel like they are the best at everything because that is what makes a good champion.
"There's a reason why Ronda is champion. She believes in herself to be the best in the world. If you don't think you're going to get there, you're already defeated. I'm not even offended that they said it. It's kind of humorous, but I'm not offended by it."
