Boxing coach Angelo Reyes: Boxing fans will get mad at Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm

Holly Holm

Boxing trainer Angelo Reyes doesn’t believe there’s a much mystery when it comes to Ronda Rousey’s UFC 193 women’s bantamweight title defense against former boxing champion Holly Holm.

In fact, Reyes is among those who feel that Rousey (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) could defeat Holm (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) as quickly as she wants should she utilize her grappling skills. It only takes one look at each fighter’s record to know why Reyes feels so confident in his prediction.

“When you look up Ronda Rousey and you just look at her 12 wins in MMA, her first fight alone was against [Ediane] Gomes,” Reyes told MMAjunkie Radio. “Gomes was 6-1. That was Ronda Rousey’s pro debut. I don’t think there’s anyone in Holly Holm’s 9-0 resume that’s even as good as Gomes, and that was Ronda Rousey’s pro debut. Ronda Rousey’s six UFC fights – [Holm’s two UFC opponents] Raquel Pennington and Marion Renau are nowhere near as good as anybody that Ronda Rousey actually has fought.

“It’s not Rousey’s fault if people are blaming Ronda for a fight like this. I heard Mike Dolce say, ‘Hey, don’t be so hard on Holm because she has more professional fights than Ronda Rousey even has MMA fights. So this could be dangerous.’ Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson. But to be honest, Mike Tyson went on blast and said he didn’t even prepare for that fight. So if Ronda Rousey doesn’t prepare for this fight, yeah, she could lose to Holly Holm. But if she prepares like she always does, I can’t see it going past a certain round. I think the opening like is 12-1 for Ronda Rousey. That’s about right. Could be 18-1. All you have to do is look at the resumes. If you look at MMA resumes, Ronda Rousey’s is really high. Holly Holm’s is not as high.”

UFC 193 takes place Nov. 14 at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The main card airs on pay-per-view following preliminary bouts on Fox Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Reyes, who has worked with fighters such as Frank Mir, doesn’t think that boxing fans will enjoy what they’ll see if they tune in to see one of their own take on Rousey.

Holm’s career record in boxing was an impressive 33-2-3. While Holm is undefeated in her professional MMA career, Reyes says that Rousey’s ability to get inside and utilize her judo to put the fight on the floor could lead to another flash armbar submission win for the champion.

“If anything, boxing fans will actually get mad in a sense,” Reyes said. “If I was going to see this fight like right now, ‘Hey. Holly Holm is going to fight Ronda Rousey. How is it going to go?’ Well, if Rousey does what she does, she’s going to step in there, she’s going to close the gap, she’s going to grab her, she’s going to put her down, put her in an armbar and then there you go. 30 seconds. 45 seconds. I think the onus is more on Ronda Rousey whose coach keeps saying, ‘She could beat anybody in boxing.’ Well, hey, this is a great statement fight to make it if Rousey can actually just stand with her for a few rounds.

“We’re talking just pure boxing. Ronda Rousey’s best weight has been 135. Holly Holm’s best weight in boxing was at 140, so they’re not even in the same weight class. In boxing, it’s a different sport. There are different lines. It’s not the same. If they got in the cage and went hands with Rousey vs. Holm and they just went straight hands. Though I believe Holly Holm could outbox her, I think four-ounce gloves changes things. Holly Holm’s two losses in her career have been by getting knocked out. Like I said, this could be a really great statement fight for Ronda Rousey to prove that her hands have been getting better.”

For more on UFC 193, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show, available on SiriusXM Ch. 93, is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.