El Paso has a strong boxing tradition with several championship fights held at the Don Haskins Center, the Sun Bowl, the El Paso County Coliseum, the old Cohen Park or Southwest University Park.
On Saturday, May 30, the tradition continues when El Paso’s Stephanie Han defends her WBA lightweight title vs. Holly Holm on an ESPN-televised card at the El Paso County Coliseum. Also on the card is Puerto Rican standout and featherweight champ, Amanda Serrano.
Here is a look at some of the top boxing matches in El Paso history.
What to know about May 30 boxing card in El Paso
Who: Stephanie Han vs. Holly Holm for WBA lightweight title and three other world title fights on TV; 8 additional fights in the afternoon.
When: Prelims, 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30; Main Card, 7 p.m.
Where: El Paso Coliseum
TV: ESPN
Promoter: Most Valuable Promotions
Feb. 25, 2025, Stephanie Han defeats Hannah Terlep
Han knocks out Terlep in the first round at the County Coliseum to win the WBA lightweight title.
July 24, 2024, Stephanie Han defeats Miranda Reyes
Han earns a hard-fought decision win vs. Reyes at the County Coliseum to set up her title shot. At the time, it was the most significant win of her career. Reyes will also fight on the May 30 fight card in El Paso.
April 29, 2016, Jennifer Han defeats Calista Salgado
Han defends her IBF featherweight world title at Southwest University Park with unanimous decision.
Sept. 19, 2015, Jennifer Han defeats Helen Joseph
Han wins the IBF featherweight world title in front of her home fans at the Don Haskins Center. She defeats Joseph by unanimous decision, 97-92, 98-92, 98-91. Jennifer Han is the sister of Stephanie Han.
July 18, 2015, Carl Frampton defeats Alejandro Gonzalez, Jr.
Frampton, a popular fighter from Ireland and Gonzalez, tough fighter from Mexico, went 12 exciting rounds in a junior featherweight fight before Frampton pulled away for a decision win. The fight was nationally televised on CBS from the Don Haskins Center.
July 18, 2015, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. defeats Marcos Reyes
In a hard-fought middleweight bout, Chavez Jr. won a 10-round unanimous decision. The fight was nationally televised on Showtime from the Don Haskins Center.
June 16, 2012, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. defeats Andy Lee
At the Sun Bowl, Chavez fought an entertaining fight with Ireland’s Andy Lee and retained his WBC middleweight title with a seventh-round stoppage.
Feb. 26, 2010, Antonio Escalante decision Miguel Roman
Escalante, who is from El Paso, defeated Juarez’ Roman in an ESPN-televised bout at the Don Haskins Center.
It was a much-anticipated fight between two local fighters with strong followings.
Escalante took the 10-round fight, convincing all three judges by scores of 97-92, 96-93, 96-93.
May 15, 1999 Cesar Soto defeats Luisito Espinosa
Soto, of Juarez, claimed the WBC featherweight crown with a decision win against Espinosa of the Philippines.
It was a solid fight with lots of action and took place at the Equestrian Center behind the County Coliseum.
April 1, 1999, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. TKO win over Verdell Smith
At the Don Haskins Center, the legendary Chavez gave El Paso fans a look at one of the all-time greats with a stoppage of veteran Verdell Smith. Chavez is considered by many to be Mexico’s greatest champion.
June 13, 1998, Oscar De La Hoya stops Patrick Charpentier
De La Hoya made quick work of Charpentier to retain his WBC welterweight crown, but that didn’t matter. A crowd of 45,000 people filled the Sun Bowl to watch the Top Rank-promoted card, which HBO televised. De La Hoya, an Olympic Gold medalist, was extremely popular as a fighter and his fight in El Paso was one of the biggest sporting events in El Paso history.
Sept. 6, 1997, Erik Morales defeats Daniel Zaragoza
Erik Morales, who is Munguia’s trainer, turned 21 in El Paso that week in 1997 and defeated the veteran Zaragoza to claim the WBC junior featherweight crown.
The fight took place at the El Paso County Coliseum and was a hard fought, close battle before Morales stopped Zaragoza in the 11th round. Morales, who was 26-0 entering the fight, went on to a Hall of Fame career. Zaragoza finished his career with 55 victories.
Aug. 6, 1989, Jorge Paez decisions Steve Cruz
Paez of Mexicali, Mexico, retained his IBF featherweight title with a unanimous decision win against Cruz, who fought out of Fort Worth. The fight was at the County Coliseum.
Cruz floored Paez in the second round with a right to the head. But in an entertaining fight, came back to earn the win.
Dec. 13, 1980, Salvador Sanchez defeats Juan LaPorte
In a nationally televised bout on ABC at the County Coliseum, Sanchez retained the WBC featherweight title by unanimous decision, with scores of 148-142, 146-139 and 147-140. Sanchez remains a popular figure in Mexican boxing history.
Other notable fights
- Sept. 6, 1997, Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Mayweather gave boxing fans a glimpse of the greatness that would follow by defeating veteran Louie Leija via TKO. Mayweather, a former Olympian, went on to win multiple world titles and never lost a professional fight. The Mayweather/Leija fight was on the undercard of the Morales/Zaragoza fight.
- June 13, 1998: On the undercard of De La Hoya and Charpentier fight, Mexico’s Cesar Bazan was successful in his challenge of WBA lightweight champ Stevie Johnston of Denver, winning the title via split decision.
- August 15, 1998: Kostya Tszyu defeats Rafael Ruelas for the WBC super lightweight Championship. Tszyu won via ninth-round stoppage at the El Paso Country Coliseum.
- May 5, 2001: Fernando Vargas defeats Wilfredo Rivera via sixth-round TKO at the Don Haskins Center. Vargas is a former world champion who was very popular during his fighting days.
- April 9, 2005: Marco Antonio Barrera stops Mzonke Fana in two rounds at the Don Haskins Center to retain super featherweight title. Barrera is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
- Nov. 11, 2011: Las Cruces’ Austin Trout defends his WBA junior middleweight title with a TKO win against Frank LoPorto at Cohen Stadium.
- Feb. 17, 2018: In a battle of former welterweight contenders, Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander fought to a draw in front of more than 5,000 fans in the Don Haskins Center.
- April 28, 2018: Abraham Han lost an unanimous decision to Andre Dirrell to former world champion Anthony Dirrell at the Don Haskins Center. Abraham is the brother of Stephanie and Jennifer Han.
- Nov. 3, 2018: Miguel Berchelt defeats Miguel Roman via ninth-round TKO for the WBC super featherweight title at the Don Haskins Center.
- June 28, 2024.At SWUP, Fernando Vargas Jr., the son of world champion Fernando Vargas, Sr. defeated Juan Carlos Cardenas by knockout at Southwest University Park.
Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 915-546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Boxing has brought many big matches and names to El Paso