After fighting four times this year, women’s junior welterweight prospect and Marine Corps Reserves Captain Stephanie Simon has big goals for 2026, including either fighting a top opponent or competing for a world title.
The 31-year-old Simon (5-0, 1 KO) an Atlanta native now based in the Los Angeles area, made her pro debut in September 2024 on the undercard of Alycia Baumgardner’s fight against Delfine Persoon. That night, Simon secured a unanimous decision victory over Claudia Zamora and, more importantly, proved that the hype from her amateur career quickly translated seamlessly to the professional ranks.
Looking back at her debut and now five fights into her career, who is Simon today? FightsATW asked her, and this is what she had to say:
“She is a believer in herself, for one. A driven person who is trying to leave a legacy, and someone who cares about having purpose. I’ve kind of always been that person, but now I feel like I’m actually seeing it come to fruition. I’m someone who is willing to put in the work and do the right thing without taking a shortcut. I’m doing this whole professional boxing thing without a whole lot in return, but I’m still going. I’m starting to see little sneak peeks of the future, and I know this train is going all the way to the top.”
At the start of the year, Simon envisioned having four to five fights and building a relationship with a promoter to prove her worth both in and out of the ring. Local promoter MarvNation took a chance on her in May, and she has been on their cards ever since. Another goal was to work up to six rounds and feel comfortable doing so, which she has achieved, and now she is aiming for eight-round fights. All of this has come while Simon continues to fulfill her commitment as a Captain in the Marine Corps Reserves.
Although boxing comes with its own challenges, Simon is willing to do whatever it takes to reach her goal of becoming a world champion, even if that means paying her opponent’s purse to secure a fight.
“At the end of the day, I’m still doing whatever it takes to get fights—at whatever cost,” said Simon. “I’ve had to come out of pocket for some of these fights. The last fight was $7,500 and the one before that was $9,000. If I don’t sell tickets or get enough sponsorship, that means I have to find a way. If that means I have to go into my own savings, so be it. That’s the kind of person I am. I’m not going to sit around and wait for opportunities. I make opportunities happen, and I think that’s what sets me apart from other people.”
Taking control of her career is something Simon has done from the very beginning. While searching for the right trainer, she met John Pullman, and their trainer and fighter relationship has continued to grow ever since. At one point, Simon was driving 30 miles each way to Pullman’s gym—a trip that proved well worth it as things started to fall into place inside the ring. The partnership between Simon and Pullman has been a strong run so far, and Simon hopes it will lead to a world title fight by the end of next year.
As of now, in the junior welterweight division, the reigning queen is Katie Taylor, with fighters like Sandy Ryan, Chantelle Cameron, and others who could make for some exciting matchups against Simon. Confident in her abilities, Simon sees herself competing against any of those names, even if it means being the B-side to make it happen.
“By the end of the next year, I’ll be fighting for a world title,” said Simon. “I want to get in an eight-rounder and see what that feels like and to get ranked in the top 10. I’d love to be in there with a bigger name. If I get three fights, that’ll put me at 8-0. At some point, you have to take a chance.”
One fight Simon mentioned she would be interested in is a matchup with WBA junior middleweight champion Mikaela Mayer. Simon has a storied history with USA Boxing, having won the Olympic Trials but ultimately being denied the opportunity to go to the Olympics. That experience motivated her decision to turn pro, and a fight with Mayer could serve as a form of redemption.
Regarding the possibility of a Mayer-Simon bout, she told FightsATW: “That would be a really good fight. The USA Boxing sweetheart vs. the reject.” Ultimately, Simon says she is simply “looking forward to fighting on a big stage.”
As for her 2026 vision, Simon has several ideas in mind, though one she couldn’t disclose due to legal restrictions.
“I want to be ranked in the top ten in any of the main belts. Once I’m ranked, I can move into the right direction and maybe even become a mandatory,” Simon continued. “There’s some really exciting stuff in place for next year.”
While Simon continues to pursue her goals in boxing and in life, she wants others to understand that anything is possible if you truly want it—so long as you are willing to put in the work. “If you are not the golden boy or girl, become so great that they cannot deny you.”
Simon is a fighter to watch in 2026, poised to go from a relative unknown to a name discussed across the sport. Her story is still unfolding, and she has no intention of quitting before reaching her goals. Only time will tell whether that story involves fighting for a world title, becoming a champion or falling short-but there is hope that Simon will, at the very least, be given the opportunity to show us what she’s got.
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