In the biggest test of her professional boxing career, El Paso lightweight Stephanie Han came up with her grittiest performance.
With a partisan crowd cheering her on late Saturday night at the El Paso County Coliseum and with a cut over her right eye that she suffered in the opening round, Han won the WBA Intercontinental title with an eight-round unanimous decision against Miranda Reyes .
The three judges scored the fight 77-75, 78-74, 79-73. Han is now 9-0. Reyes, who was born in El Paso, but fights out of Houston, is 7-3-1.
Cop, mother, fighter: El Paso boxer Stephanie Han lives full life as boxing career takes off
Han suffered the cut in the first round from a headbutt and the blood streamed down the right side of her face throughout the fight but did not impede her ability to fight.
A ringside doctor examined Han's eye after the third round but allowed her to continue.
"I had to dig deep for this win," said the 33-year-old Han, who is 10 years older than Reyes. "Miranda has fought really good fighters of late and I had to step up and fight my best. The cut was the first ever in my pro career, I just stuck to my plan."
That plan was to use her superior boxing skills to offset Reyes' aggression. Han used her multifaceted attack to slow Reyes down. Han landed the better combinations throughout the fight. Reyes, who was cut under the left cheek, fought better in the second half of the eight-round fight, but was not able to hurt Han.
"My goal is to be a world champion and this was a big step in my career," Han said.
Louie Burke, Han's trainer, said Han stayed composed in the battle against Reyes.
More local boxers on card: Las Cruces flyweight Amy Salinas, El Paso heavyweight Marcos Duran set for fights Saturday
"Stephanie stuck to her game plan," Burke said. "It wasn't an easy fight and we knew it would be a tough fight. Stephanie did a great job in there against a quality opponent."
Han doesn't have an opponent lined up for her next fight but plans on returning to the ring before the end of the year.
Bustillos defeats Amy Salinas
In a fast-paced and entertaining bout, flyweight boxer Yadira Bustillos out pointed Las Cruces’ Amy Salinas via unanimous decision. Scores were 78-74, 78-74, 79-73. Bustillos is now 10-1 and Salinas is 6-6.
Jorge Tovar stays perfect
El Paso middleweight Jorge Tovar remained undefeated with a second-round knockout of Lester Medrano. Medrano was down five times in fight. Tovar now 9-0 with seven knockouts.
Tovar said he hopes to fight in September.
El Paso's Victor Aranda wins
El Paso junior middleweight Victor Aranda scored a first-round knockout of Daniel Osório. He floored Osório with a big left hook. Osorio also injured his right knee when he hit mat forcing the fight to be stopped. Aranda is now 4-0. All four of his wins are by knockout.
El Paso heavyweight Marcos Duran victorious
El Paso heavyweight Marcos Duran won his pro debut with a second-round stoppage of Enrique Martinez. Duran, who is a 2020 Mountain View High School graduate, used a strong body attack and several good left hooks to the head.
The stoppage came in the second round. Duran floored Martinez in the first round with a left head to the jaw.
D'Angelo Sanchez wins super flyweight bout
Las Cruces super flyweight was dominant in stopping Corion Hawkins in the pro debut for both boxers.
Sanchez knocked down Hawkins three times before stopping him in the second round. Sanchez controlled the action with a varied attack of body and head punches.
DJ Bonds wins unanimous decision
Welterweight DJ Bonds looked strong after nearly two years off with a unanimous decision win vs. Jason Phillips. All three judges scored the fight 59-55.
"I felt good after the layoff and did some good things," Bonds said.
The fight was competitive throughout as both fighters engaged in several good exchanges. But Bonds was a bit busier and more accurate. Bonds had Phillips hurt in the fifth round with a good combination to the head and body.
Dominic Barry remains perfect
El Paso cruiserweight Dominic Barry improved to 5-0 with five KOs with a fourth-round stoppage of Tommie Britto.
Britton had a tough defense through the first two rounds, but Barry was more effective in rounds three and four and Britton felt his power.
"He was tough and made it tough for me. I respect him a great deal." said Barry of Britton.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso lightweight boxer Stephanie Han wins WBA Intercontinental title by unanimous decision
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