(NOV 15) WBAN is looking forward to December 2, 2011, at the Route 66 Casino Hotel, in Albuquerque, New Mexico,  on the 'World Dominance,' card, when Anne Sophie Mathis, (25-1, 21 KOs), of France, fights for the WBAN Welterweight World title belt.  Mathis will be fighting Holly Holm, 30-1-3, 9 KOs), of New Mexico,  in the 10-round bout, with the addition of the IBA World Welterweight Title in this contest. 

Holm has not only made boxing history for women's boxing when she first fought for the WBAN "first ever" Independent world title belt in June of 2008, against Mary Jo Sanders, but she won a second WBAN belt in November of 2010, against Ann Marie Saccurato.  This is Holm's third WBAN belt that she will be vying for in the welterweight division.  

To celebrate this major fight in women's boxing, WBAN decided to have a special Fundraiser for the Retired Boxers Foundation [RBF].  We had many items up for grabs, that include many male and female world champions who signed gloves.  100% of the proceeds will go directly to the RBF, and I will present a check with the amount of the proceeds that we were able to raise directly to Alex "the Bronx Bomber" Ramos, President of the RBF, and Jacquie Richardson, Executive Director of the RBF.  WBAN has invited both to be at this event for the Fundraiser.

WBAN's Boxing Memorabilia Fundraiser
100% Proceeds go to the Retired Boxers Foundation

In a press release the following was stated:

"I agree that Holly and Sophie Ann are the two best women boxers in the world," Holm's head trainer Mike Winkeljohn said. "Holly's beaten everybody here. She's at the top of her game with nowhere to go (in the U.S.) Holly has a tremendous fan-base in Albuquerque. She makes so much more fighting there due to her fan-base, so there's no reason for her to fight anywhere else. She's always been willing to fight anybody. . Now, two continents are coming together. We're both excited about this new challenge (Mathis) and she will be up for that challenge. "

Holm is a nine-time world champion in three different divisions (light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight) and the 29-year-old boxer has an amazing 20-0-1 (6 KOs) record in world title fights, in addition to sporting a 14-0-1 mark versus world champions. She has fought and beaten virtually all of the notable names of the past decade in women's boxing, from 135 through 154-pound classes, including Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice). Holly is riding a 24-fight unbeaten streak, dating back to her only pro loss in 2004, when a serious cut under her eye prevented her from continuing to fight.

"Holly can box or do MMA equally well," noted Winkeljohn, who trains Holm in both combat sports. "Women's boxing isn't on television in the U.S and, for sponsorships, she's turned to MMA. Holly is the best boxer in the world and, MMA-wise, in a year she will be the best in women's MMA, too.

"What separates her from others are her intelligence and drive. She works very hard and is a student of the game. Holly can change game plans on the spot. She always wants to do more in training than she did in the last camp. Sometimes, I have to make her stop."

Six-time world titlist Mathis is the reigning the WIBA, WIBF and WBF World Welterweight Champion. She has won 24 consecutive bouts, dating back 16 years to her only pro loss in her second pro fight. Her Dec. 2nd showdown against Holm will mark the fifth anniversary of Ann Sophie's first world title win, in which she stopped previously unbeaten Miriam Lamare, (13-0) for the WBA crown and vacant EBU championship. Mathis' victims also include world champions Couch, Yankovich, Ana Pascal and Nathalie Toro.

"Mathis is an anomaly because of her length and size," Winkeljohn concluded. "She's caused fits for opponents trying to close the gap because of her long arms. She hits hard, too. We don't want to be on the end of her punches."

The boxing card is presented by Fresquez Productions.