Women's Boxing: Latest News in Women's Boxing

(JUNE 10) "Finally" is all set to go Friday, June 13th, at the Isleta Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The IFBA light middleweight title bout between Holly Holm and Mary Jo Sanders has been much discussed and everyone has opinions and comments to spare. Experts, fighters, and writers and boxing industry professionals offered their predictions and comments on the main event for all to read and further discuss.

Laila Ali: It's nice to see an effort to promote a competitive match-up such as this. Hopefully both women will get the kind of attention they have been seeking and boxing fans will continue to support women's boxing.

Ann Wolfe: I think Mary Jo Sanders will win. I am not too familiar with either of them but I do know they both know better than to try and fight me. Neither of them will ever know what a real punch is like. Mary Jo is bigger but it will be a typical girl fight and you won't see the athletic ability and hard punches, where the fighters can fight hard and take punches. Both Mary Jo and Holly have been taken care of and this fight won't be a defining women's fight.

Deirdre Gogarty: I've had the pleasure of seeing Mary Jo Sanders boxing live, she was a joy to watch. I've seen only small clips of Holly Holm in action and wish I'd seen more. It makes a prediction more difficult. They have both defeated the who's who of women's boxing. If I have to pick one, I'd say Sanders to win on points. But I won't be surprised if I'm wrong! I wish them both the best of luck, and congratulate them for making women's boxing the best it can be.

Mia St. John: Well, first I always wish both fighters to go home safely. That being said, both women are amazing fighters, but I have to go with Holly. She is a smart boxer and she will know what to do when she gets in the ring. She's very strategic and always has a game plan, yet she is clever enough to change the plan in the ring if need be.

Layla McCarter: On the Holm/Sanders fight, I predict a Holm victory in a "Holm/Home" town. Promoter Lenny Fresquez will do everything in his power (and he has a lot of pull in Albuquerque), to insure a "Holm" town decision. As far as the actual fight action, I think it will be a close one.

Terry Washington, trainer of Golden State Champion Carly Batey: I pick Holly Holm to win by decision. The fight is in Albuquerque. Her movement and her being a southpaw is going to give Mary Jo Sanders problems. There are a lot of things that Mary Jo Sanders could do to win but I don't think she will find those answers. If Mary Jo doesn't figure out how to cut her off then it will be an easy win for Holm. This is a great fight for female boxing but I don't think it's ready for pay-per-view.

David Avila, thesweetscience.com: Because the New Mexico judges are so horrible I have to go with Holly Holm. Sanders has to KO her and I don't think she can.

Bernie McCoy, WBAN: Holm/Sanders could be the third best bout on the card. Hallback/Garside and Moreno/Olszewski are both terrific match-ups. Neither Holm or Sanders has big punching power and the fight should go the distance. Holm is always in great condition and will have no trouble maintaining her quickness over ten rounds. Sanders may be the slightly more skilled boxer and if Mary Jo can dictate the pace, her chance lies in building a lead with her boxing skill. I wouldn't be surprised if Jimmy Mallo has worn out the tape of Holm/Laracuente, particularly the last several rounds. While there is a chance that the ten rounds turn into a tactical fight, I hope it's a good bout, worthy of the main event spot on a very good card. I make it a close one. Holm, at home, 97-95, 6-4.

Chris Cozzone, Fightnews/NewMexico Boxing: I made the mistake of predicting a loss for Holly Holm once in her career - when she took Christy Martin to school. Against Sanders, I'll take Holly by UD, though I don't expect her to breeze through Sanders like she did Martin. I expect a tough and technical fight.

Judi Abate, Boxing Diva, mightygloves.com: I predict that Holly Holm will win because of her overall conditioning and adaptability

Ken Weiss:, Promoter of "A Ring of Their Own": I think 154 is a big factor in this fight. Holly has not fought at that weight and Mary Jo has been fighting around that weight for at least two years. Holly has been a little busier than Mary Jo having fought five times in the last year and has impressive recent wins over Ann Marie Saccurato and Chevelle Hallback. Mary Jo also has impressive wins over Mahfood , Del Valle, Olson, Turton and also Hallback. She seems quite comfortable around this weight obviously while we haven�t seen Holly at this weight before. There is always trouble brewing with southpaws and Holly is a very skilled southpaw which I think will be an advantage for her. But Mary Jo will come straight at her and challenge Holly early, perhaps in ways Holly hasn�t been challenged before. They both have knockout power but I don�t believe this will be a factor in this fight. In the end, I think Mary Jo�s strength and her natural comfort at this weight should keep Holly off her game plan. I pick Sanders by decision.

Steve Farhood, Showtime Analyst: It's a tough matchup for Mary Jo because the fight is almost definitely going to go the distance, and she has to win a decision on the road, but she's the naturally bigger fighter and a neat boxer. Sanders by close decision.

The experts have spoken so tune in and see who emerges the pound for pound best in women�s boxing when "Finally" comes to PPV live from the Isleta Resort Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico.