Holm vs. Hernandez to Determine Women's 'Best Fighter, Pound-for-Pound'

While much of the women's boxing world sees Holly Holm as the sport's best fighter, pound-for-pound, her next opponent, Melissa Hernandez, believes that it is she who has achieved that honor.

In a clash that is being billed as "Bad Blood," The two fighters will meet to decide who is the best on Friday night at the Isleta Casino and Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

That's when the 28-year-old Holm (25-1-3, seven knockouts), a southpaw, faces the 29-year-old Hernandez (11-1-2, four KOs) with the Women's International Boxing Association (WIBA) welterweight (147 pounds) title on the line.

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Holm has more than twice as many fights, nearly twice as many knockouts, and appears to have fought at higher weights throughout much of her career against much the sport's bigger names.

Hernandez is coming off of a fifth-round stoppage of Ambar Fajardo, for which she weighed 128 pounds.

A resident of Albuquerque, Holm has an 18-0-1 unbeaten streak and has fought as high as 154 pounds.

Holm's list of vanquished opponents include Christy Martin and Mia St. John -- whom she defeated in back-to-back bouts in 2005 -- as well as Mary Jo Sanders, who was 25-0 before losing to Holm in June of 2008.

In addition to Sanders, with whom Holm fought to a draw in October of 2008, Holm also owns a May 2007 unanimous decision over tough Chevelle Hallback -- her lone common opponent with Hernandez.

"Holly's strong point is that she seems to stick to her game plan no matter. She is very technical, she sticks to basic boxing, and to top it all off, she is very well conditioned," said Hallback, who is trained by former men's world champion, Buddy McGirt.

"The only weak point that I see is that even though Holly moves a lot in the ring, she only seems to move in one direction," said Hallback, who is 27-5-2, with 11 KOs. "That could be a problem if she ever runs into a fighter that can capitalize on that."

A resident of the Bronx who is of Puerto Rican decent, Hernandez has fought as low as 119 pounds, and is fighting for the first time at a weight higher than 134. She has competed only twice at 134.

Since being stopped in eight rounds by Layla McCarter in February of 2007, Hernandez is 5-0-1, with two knockouts.

Included in Hernandez's unbeaten streak are a decision over McCarter in April of 2007, and a draw with Hallback in February of 2008.

"Melissa is a very talented fighter with a lot of heart and determination. She also has great movement going both directions. She is willing to get in there with anyone, at any size, and she's willing to mix it up," said Hallback.

"Melissa's weakness is that sometimes, she gets a little wide when throwing her punches and that could be a problem if she is fighting against a fighter that punches straight down the pipe," said Hallback.

"She does not sit down on her punches and, a lot of times, that minimizes her power," said Hallback. "If she is going to continue to fight the bigger girls, she is going to need some power to keep them off of her."

So who is Hallback picking to win on Friday night?

"I do not have a prediction. Both are friends of mine and I want them both to do a great job and show that female boxing is here to stay," said Hallback.

"I think this is going to be a good fight," Hallback added, "just because you have a fighter that is determined to keep the status of the best female fighter pound for pound against a fighter that says she is the best female fighter pound for pound."