In our new series “Talk in the Park,” I talk to successful and impactful people around the Borderland. For this segment, I got a chance to meet World Lightweight Champion Stephanie Han.
Q: You just finished defending your WBA championship title. How does that feel, Stephanie?
Stephanie: I’m very relieved. I’m very excited. I went to Orlando, Florida. I fought a very tough opponent at this level. All the all tough. But I outclassed her and I came out victorious. I’m so, so grateful. That is incredible.
Q: One of the things that makes you so inspiring is the fact that not only do you stay very humble, but you work really hard. Can you tell us your journey from becoming the professional that you are today and everything else that you have accomplished?
Stephanie: So, coming here, being here as a world champion, it is not easy. It’s a lot of sacrifices, a lot of discipline. But I’m so grateful for my family because I would not be here without my family. And I still want to continue fighting. I still feel like I have a couple more fights in me. I know if I want to be successful and I want to keep this belt, I have to keep training hard, and I have every intention of doing that.
Q: So, not only are you an incredible world champion fighter, you also hold other professions in your life. Talk a little bit about that.
Stephanie: So yes, I’m a police officer by day. I’m a boxer by night. And the most important role that I have is a mother of two. I think being a mother is probably the biggest accomplishment I’ll ever achieve in life.
Q: How do you juggle all three things and be good at it?
Stephanie: Family, 100% family. The support that I have from my husband, my brothers, my sisters, my father. I have such a great support system, and I’m so grateful for them.
Q: Let’s talk about the little girls who are watching you, who aspire to be a fighter. When I think of athletes, I think it’s tough to make it in the business. So people will tell you, don’t be an athlete. What would you say to that?
Stephanie: So, as a police officer, as a professional boxer, they’re both male-dominated professions. But if you guys are good at something, and you want to do something that you love, truly, don’t take other people’s opinions over your own. If you want to do it, have the confidence, do it.
I came back to boxing a couple years ago. I didn’t have to. I had my career. I had my family. But I felt like I still had something to prove. And I felt like if I didn’t come back to boxing, I would always have that regret.
So I came back at 30 years old, and I chased my dream, and I’ve been able to achieve it. So again, if I could do it, you could definitely do it. And I just want to give a shout-out to El Paso. Like you’ve been so supportive of my journey. I’ve gotten so much positive feedback from my last fight and I want to say thank you.
Thank you for all the love, all the support, and I truly hope that you guys continue supporting me on my journey.
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