After a longer than expected layoff, Hanna Hansen - the former fashion model, DJ and kickboxing world champion - finally has a date set for her return to the boxing ring: In her third professional prizefight, Hansen is set to battle Lili Jumali over eight scheduled rounds on March 26 at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany. (photo by Katrin Chodor)

The contest will be one of the leading undercard fights to the IBO world super middleweight title eliminator between five-time world champion Felix Sturm and István Szili. It will also mark Hansen’s first fight since leaving Universum Box-Promotion and signing a promotional agreement with Ludger Inholte’s recently founded LIB Boxpromotion.

“I cannot wait for March 26,“ Hansen said. “I can finally fight again and take another step towards my goal of becoming world champion. These last couple of months have been tough, but I learned a lot and I’m ready to leave the past behind me and focus on a bright future.“

Hansen’s excitement is shared by Ludger Inholte, who is full of praise for the first female fighter signed by LIB Boxpromotion: “Germany needs fighters like Hanna Hansen to bring women’s boxing back to the center of media and social attention. In order to do that, we need to discover young and talented fighters and because of her background in sports, I believe that Hanna can be the perfect ambassador for women’s boxing. She can inspire talented fighters to pick up the gloves just as much as she can get the fans excited about the sport of boxing once again.“

As always, Hansen will prepare for battle with her trainer and former world title challenger Maurice Weber at the state-of-the-art Sturm Gym in Cologne, Germany.

“The first bell can’t come soon enough,“ Hansen added. “I can promise fireworks to all my fans. Of course, it’ll be a challenge to go eight rounds for the first time in my career, but I’ll be ready for it.“