Introducing Stella Haussmann

Humble upbringings and economic difficulties shaped Stella Haussmann’s life. Boxing took her away from misery and the risks of her previous day job.

Stella was born in Dortmund on October 28, 1994, in family that was used to excellent paydays based on coal mining and steel making. The industrial crisis that started in the Ruhr region in the 1970s never led to a strong recovery.

The Haussmann family was thus left behind. They never cared for high education, and had to hop from job to job without much economic stability. Paying the bills was one of the most regular topics of conversation in the house, and Stella had to learn how to grow up in near-poverty.

Stella Haussmann

Finding her path

When she was 18, her parents felt like she was a financial burden, and kicked her out of the house. Stella was a good kid, but she wasn’t all that great in school. Her learning boxing and being a moody tomboy didn’t go down well either. She had to live in a shelter with unruly young adults.

The unpleasant “social experience” made her dream of becoming a police officer, but the local academy rejected her due to poor grades. However, a coach from the gym had connections with the correctional authorities. He introduced her to one of the bosses, who readily sponsored her to take the prison guard training.

Stella looked tough and disciplined enough to keep inmates under control, but she had to take a step up in the training. Desperate for a better life, she put her mind to it and passed the test with flying colours. A large prison near Dortmund hired her as a guard.

Stella worked well enough to be hated by inmates. She was later assigned to solitary confinement, and made first responder in times of trouble.

All seemed well. Being a prison guard gave her decent wages. Boxing was a hobby, and she was good at it. She sparred with guys regularly, and had many amateur fights in the Super Lightweight division. All stoppages because opponents couldn’t deal with the pain inflicted by her stone-hard fists.

Near-death experience

Stella’s life turned on a dime in a fortnight.

First, a regional boxing promoter approached her in the hope to build her up.

Second, someone made an attempt on her life. A solitary confinement inmate with whom she had trouble in the past had poison smuggled in jail. Just as she and a colleague opened the door to take him out of his cell, he rushed forward and forced a tiny vial to her mouth.

Stella correctly guessed what just happened. She pushed him away and let out a massive death scream that alerted her colleagues. Part of the poison went in her mouth. Part was spilled on the floor. They rushed her to the emergency room at the nearby hospital. The dose she accidentally swallowed sure kicked in, but ER workers had enough time to intervene and save her life.

Her wannabe killer received a life sentence.

New beginning

That scary episode gave Stella second thoughts about her career. Her gym mates and the promoter supported her greatly during recovery, and vowed to give her a second chance in life through sport.

Stella took leave and focused on boxing. She steadily improved, wrapped up her amateur career and started training for a professional debut. The born puncher knocked her first four opponents out inside three rounds.

When she had her first fight, the German Super Lightweight division was crowded at the top. Katia Nagel, Anna Schwartz and Alesia Schumann were all gunning for the title held by veteran champion Laura Ritter.

By the fourth fight, the coast was almost clear. Alesia Schumann had just won the title. Stella stood as the number two challenger with a bout against the number two in the works.

Today, she wants to score a fifth straight knockout and hopefully become number one. Whenever she sees Alesia Schumann on TV, she thinks: “this could be me”.

Alesia Schumann
Alesia Schumann
Super Lightweight champion of the world, German champion and one of the pound for pound best. The Diva is known for her tactical strength and durability.