Stephanie Simon is being trained by John Pullman.

Simon fights Archana Sharma on Saturday in a six-round fight that will be the main event at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California. 

Simon, 30, a Marine captain who lives in Los Angeles, has had a career defined by odd circumstances. After a stellar amateur career and winning the 2024 Olympic trials, she was not the candidate to compete at the Tokyo 2020. Morrelle McCane was. Simon then found a new home in Los Angeles.

“My friend Simon, who is a pro boxer from Germany, is living with my partner, Carson Crawford, only for training camp,” Simon told BoxingScene. “We decided that we wanted to go to other gyms and check out other options. We both looked at the same time and then he got linked with Pullman through his manager. 

“And the day that he went to check out Pullman's gym he asked me to come along. I went with him. It was almost like a complete accident.” If Simon hadn’t made that decision she might not have had that chance encounter. 

Pullman recalled the impact of Simon’s power when they first did mitt work together. 

“When I mitted her for the first time and felt her power…” Pullman said. “I believe she has the potential to be the best woman in the sport of boxing.”

Simon felt a sudden comfort with her new trainer. Simon recalls being in past camps and feeling stressed; she found Pullman refreshing and not overwhelming in the same way as some of her prior experiences. 

“He brings the best out of me,” Simon, 1-0, said of her new coach. “He trains with a calm demeanor and he understands the sport. He understands how to teach.”

Simon’s pro debut took place in September. She won a four-round unanimous decision over Claudia Zamora in Atlanta. 

Next, she and Pullman have their first fight together, against Sharma, 3-2 (2 KOs). Sharma, 29, from New Delhi, India, suffered a split-decision loss to Whitney Gomez in November. Simon is pleased with Pullman’s approach to training. The two work in a private gym on the outskirts of LA. In the past, Simon remembered a pep talk that Pullman gave her in passing.

“One of the best things that he told me was whether or not you become a world champion, which I know you will, my life will remain the same,” Simon said. “I'm going to come here and train people. I'm going to come here and do what I love every single day. 

“I'm going to come to the gym and I'm going to do what I'm doing now no matter what. That to me, shows that he's not trying to use my potential for his success.”