Holm’s advice: Don’t sell yourself short

“Perseverance” is more than just a catchy name for Friday night’s pro boxing card in the Meadow City.

It’s a concept WIBA welterweight champion Holly Holm takes to heart.

On Wednesday, amid a series of public appearances in town, Holm shared her story and some advice with an audience at Luna Community College.

“Find every opportunity you can to better yourselves,” she said. “Don’t sell yourself short. Pursue and achieve your highest goals.”

Such encouragements came as Holm prepared to take on power puncher Terri Blair in the main event Friday night at the Wilson Complex. Gates for the show open at 5:30, with first bell at 7:30; tickets were still available as of mid-week, said promoter Lenny Fresquez.

The card also features hometown fighters Frankie Archuleta and the brother-sister act of Arturo and Amanda Crespin. Archuleta was a hero in the last major boxing event to be held in the original Vegas; in March 2004, he defeated Johnny Tapia in an action-packed match that went the distance.

Holm told the LCC crowd that she never envisioned going pro when she first began boxing, but she discovered that she loved it and kept working hard. “Finding something that you love is important,” she said. “There are times when it’s snowing and you don’t want to go run, but you do it anyway. If it was easy, everybody would do it ... Take the harder path; it’s the most rewarding.”

Also Wednesday, LCC President Pete Campos did his best Michael Buffer impression in introducing Holm, and city councilor Morris Madrid channeled Muhammad Ali with an Ali-style poem he crafted for Friday’s boxing.

Campos praised the Crespin family and noted that both Arturo and Amanda are full-time students at New Mexico State University.