Natalie Zimmermann challenges lightweight world champion Terri Harper on May 23. The Hamburg native will compete as the underdog in England – and will be supported by cult rocker Udo Lindenberg.
On May 23, lightweight Natalie Zimmermann (13-0, 3 knockouts) will get the biggest opportunity of her boxing career to date. The 42-year-old from Hamburg will fight for the WBO title on that day against Terri Harper (15-2-2, 6 knockouts). However, she will do so as the underdog. The Brit is the reigning world champion at the limit, fights in her home town of Doncaster, is 14 years younger and is also more battle-hardened.
“That makes me confident”
But Zimmermann, who is currently ranked tenth in the WBO rankings, doesn’t put too much stock in that. “The knowledge I’ve gathered over the last 22 years, she won’t have been able to gather in ten years. That’s also something that reassures me and makes me more confident,” the Hamburg native told the German Press Agency.
By this, she primarily means the knowledge she has acquired in her main profession over the decades. The North German, who fought her first professional boxing match in 2020, works as a fitness trainer and physiotherapist. She has also been training German rock legend Udo Lindenberg as a personal coach for many years.
Zimmermann already contested and won a title fight in Gütersloh in 2023, albeit with the less important association WIBF and against the Hungarian Edina Kiss (16-17-0). On May 23 in Doncaster (DAZN live), he will now face a different caliber. Harper previously held the WBC lightweight title and the WBA middleweight title. “I’m the underdog. She’s the local hero,” Zimmermann knows. “If I win this, it will be like a miracle, making the impossible possible.”
Fitted by a former champion
The 42-year-old grew up as one of five daughters near Bungsberg (Schleswig-Holstein). Back then, Natalie’s family looked after around 1,000 sheep and 40 horses. While she used to have to carry buckets of water and bales of straw, she has long been training professionally for her sport. Zimmermann was coached by Artur Grigoryan, the former world lightweight champion (April 1996 to January 2004). “Every session with him sharpens my skills and my mindset,” Natalie posted on her Instagram channel.
Natalie also sparred with boxer Lara Ochmann in preparation for the world championship duel in England . “Had some great rounds, sharp feedback and good energy with Lara Ochmann,” the Hamburg native shared via social media. “These sessions push me mentally and physically and I can feel the progress every time.Thank you for your work, Lara – I couldn’t have wished for a better sparring partner.I feel prepared. I feel ready. The countdown is on.”
The personal trainer also receives support from her “protégé” Udo Lindenberg. “Natalie, you cool sock, from little shepherdess up in the wild north to double world champion boxer, yeah!” wrote the panic rocker on Instagram. And promised: “We are the monster team and when you fight for the world title in England on 23 May, of course I’ll be there! Fight for glory.”
Text: Frank Schwantes
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