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Nina Meinke Makes Hamburg Return to Defend IBF Title and Chase IBO Crown

Her comeback follows a year of recovery from spine surgery.

Overview

  • At Thursday’s official weigh-in, Meinke came in at 56.5 kg while challenger Dyana Vargas was 100 grams over the limit, and the bout remained on after Meinke declined to demand a re-weigh as Vargas kept her jewelry on.
  • The main event is set for Friday at Hamburg’s Fischauktionshalle with roughly 400 spectators and live coverage by BILD, promoted by Meinke’s new team at Ringside Zone.
  • Meinke and Vargas agreed to box over 12 three‑minute rounds, a men’s-distance format the champion advocates as a step toward parity in women’s boxing.
  • The Berlin fighter returns after a 2025 lumbar disc herniation with nerve compression that required surgery to remove disc material and part of bone, a case her doctor warned carried only about a 20% chance of full recovery.
  • Meinke, 33, brings a 20–3 record and the IBF featherweight belt she won against Daniela Bermudez in 2024 and defended in 2025, while Vargas of the Dominican Republic is regarded by Team Meinke as a relentless opponent.