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The trainer of Holly Holm's next opponent has some brash talk for the Holm camp.

"It ain't gonna be pretty, that much I can tell you," says Louis Avila, trainer of Chevelle Hallback, who will fight Holm on May 23.

"It won't go the distance. Holly's gonna run, but she won't be able to handle Chevelle's fists of steel - that's what they call her - and she'll show you, she can back that name up."

Hallback, a boxer from Tampa, Fla., known as "Fists of Steel," has a 25-4-1 record with 11 KOs. She will be giving up 10 pounds when she goes from 130 to 140 to challenge Holm, the undisputed welterweight champion and No. 1 boxing draw in the state.

Holm (17-1-2 with 5 KOs) will be fighting Hallback for the unclaimed International Female Boxing Association junior welterweight belt.

The 10-round bout, televised on ESPN2's "Wednesday Night Fights" and promoted by Fresquez Productions and Prize Fight Boxing, will headline a nearly all-local card at Tingley Coliseum.

Whether Hallback, perhaps the best pound-for-pound fighter at 130 has a chance at beating the heavier, taller, hometown southpaw remains iffy. But Hallback certainly will be a tough foe for Holm.

Hallback exudes confidence even if her talk isn't as brash as her outspoken trainer.

"I love the challenge," she said Tuesday afternoon at a news conference. "I may be giving up 10 pounds, but I'm relying on my ring experience and better boxing skills to win me this fight.

"This fight is like the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather fight. Mayweather is giving up weight, too, but has the superior skills. Like Floyd, I really believe in my boxing abilities."

While Holm will have the height and size advantages, Hallback does have more fights (31 to Holm's 20) and has been fighting for five years longer. She's also fought a greater number of quality opponents.

"I've also fought bigger opponents before," Hallback said. "So, I'm used to the weight factor."

Two years ago, Hallback lost a decision to Mary Jo Sanders - who much to Holm's dismay has left the welterweight division behind for bigger game, namely Laila Ali.

"It was a close fight," Hallback said of her loss to Sanders.

Since then, Hallback hasn't lost, which has made it increasingly harder to secure a fight.

"She's the one they told us to stay away from," Mike Winkeljohn, Holm's trainer, said of Hallback.

Winkeljohn said Hallback wasn't the Holm camp's first choice, but several other fighters turned down a shot at Holm.

"I know how she feels," said Hallback, who has not been able to nail down a fight for about 18 months.

"She's the best at 140 to 147, and I'm the best, pound for pound, at 130. You get to that point and nobody wants to fight you."

Hallback has one world title at 130 and is rated No. 1 twice and No. 4 in the remaining three top sanctioning bodies.

"It's not about titles," Hallback said. "Belts don't mean anything, especially in women's boxing. To me, this fight is just another belt, but there's a lot more to gain - like exposure.

"It's about who you fight. Holly has a name now. But it's time to show the world who's the best, pound for pound. My time has come."

Holm admits she's in for what she calls "her biggest challenge yet."

"The weight difference doesn't mean anything," Holm said. "She's fought at 140 before and is comfortable there.

"I know she wouldn't have taken the fight if she didn't think she could beat me. She's obviously not scared and has a lot more experience than me."