Lenny Fresquez, Holly Holm’s promoter, said Thursday he has abandoned hopes of making a fight between Holm and unbeaten Norwegian boxer Cecilia Braekhus sometime this summer.

Fresquez said repeated attempts to contact Sauerland Event, Braekhus’ German promotional firm, have been unsuccessful. “I just don’t think they want the fight,” he said.

Holm likely will focus on mixed-martial arts, not boxing, in the near future, Fresquez said. The Albuquerque fighter is unbeaten in two previous MMA contests.

Last month, just before Holm’s victory over Australia’s Diana Prazak, Braekhus issued a challenge via YouTube. “I’m officially calling you out,” Braekhus said, addressing Holm. The video is posted on Sauerland’s Facebook page, dated Dec. 6. Braekhus goes on to suggest the two meet in Las Vegas, Nev., in July to settle matters.

On Dec. 27, Doris Robinson, Fresquez’s coordinator of boxing, posted on the Sauerland Facebook page requesting a response regarding Holm-Braekhus negotiations. Robinson provided her email address.

There has been no response to that or other inquiries, Fresquez said.

Fresquez’s Plan B was a boxing match between Holm and Indiana’s Mary McGee, who scored an impressive victory over Albuquerque’s Victoria Cisneros on the Holm-Prazak undercard. But Fresquez said McGee turned down the fight.

“I think Holly will be looking at MMA,” Fresquez said. “Holly always has options.”

The ultimate goal, he said, would be a fight for Holm against UFC 135-pound champion Ronda Rousey.
— This article appeared on page D5 of the Albuquerque Journal