Holland glides to a hat-trick of pro wins

Holland’s jab knocks Carter off balance. Picture: BCB Promotions

TRAINER Richie Ghent was rightly pleased by the ring IQ and poise displayed by new pro Mia Holland at The Hangar, Wolverhampton, on Friday.

The home city’s bantam kept heavier Kira Carter on the end of a fine jab before gliding through the gears to take a shutout 40-36 four round decision from referee Ryan Churchill.

That’s the 21-year-old amateur champ’s third paid win on the spin. Ghent said: “It was a very good performance, the jab was very good tonight. I want her fighting at 52kg (just over the flyweight limit).”

Carter from Leeds has yet to have her hand raised in victory after 20 contests (one draw) and she seemed fleshy at 9st.

But the girl’s game and tough, she also had the physical advantages. Carter gave it a go, tried to make it messy, yet lacked the speed and skill to trouble Holland (8st 9lbs).

Mia, a teaching assistant, schooled her opponent, delivering hard jabs in the first, then opening up in the second.

She worked Carter’s body and landed one particularly eye-catching left downstairs.

I was impressed by Holland’s head movement in the third as Carter tried to throw ammo back. The last was all Mia as she let both hands go to head and body.

Before Friday’s BCB show, Mia told me: “My next fight should be a six rounder. I’ll go for area titles, work my way up and aim as high as I can go.”

In the women’s sport, you can rise quite rapidly. Holland could be chasing significant titles within a year.