Submitted photo Zion Hensley, right, poses with Dayana Paola Almonacid Galvez, following a bout at the Guerra Del Semidesierto II in October.

The next few months for Mahoning Valley fighter Zion Hensley are going to be extremely busy. Luckily, that’s the way she likes it.

Over the next three months, Hensley has a local bout in Boardman on Saturday, the 2025 USA Boxing National Championships in Lubbock, Texas, in early December, and in January, Hensley will be headed overseas to participate in the Golden Girl Box Cup, held in Boras, Sweden.

The nonstop action is exactly what the six-time national champion wants.

“Personally, I would just keep going, but my dad makes me (slow down) because I always want to be on the go,” she said.

All of this comes on the heels of Hensley’s trip south of the border, to the Guerra Del Semidesierto II (translation: semi-desert war) event in the north-central Mexican state, Queretaro. It was a learning experience, but she walked away with a 4-0 record. Two of those came from forfeits.

“It was definitely crazy,” Hensley said. “One of my favorite trips ever. I learned a lot. In America, you can only fight once every 24 hours, but in Mexico, because I was at this big tournament, you can fight two times in a night, and I ended up doing that. I was specifically only supposed to have two fights on different days, but I ended up not fighting the two girls that I thought I was gonna fight and fighting two completely different girls. I had a lot of adversity, and I had to just adjust a lot, but that just helped me get even more prepared. Also the elevation there too was something I had to really get used to. I prepared in camp for that by using an elevation mask, and it really helped me a lot.”

Saturday’s bout kickstarts this long-haul stretch, where Hensley will take on Jocelyn Bravo.

It’s one of 15 fights that make up Youngstown-Salem Boxing Club’s Fight To Unite 11, dubbed the “Thanksgiving Brawl in the Mall”.

Bravo is a current national champion, and has a deep boxing pedigree.

The Tyler, Texas, native is one of 11 children – all of whom have boxed – and is trained by her family. Two of her brothers, who are pro boxers, are in her corner during fights.

Bravo grew up with boxing gloves on her hands, and Hensley is excited to get in the ring.

“I’ve only been boxing since I was 8, so she’s been in the gym longer than me. That just makes me have respect for (her growth),” Hensley said. “I have a lot of respect for her, but when we get in there, I’m gonna do my best and do my thing.

“She likes to pressure a lot, and she kind of fights a little wider, like her punches come out a little wider. My main plan is to use the ring, use my footwork that I’ve been drilling in camp, and throw straight down the middle. Use my angles and all that.”

Hensley will get a grand entrance for her next local fight. Building a connection with the biker group Unity in the Community (UTIC), Hensley will come out on the back of a motorcycle belonging to the group’s founder, Michael Ruozzo, who passed away earlier this month.

“I think it’s so cool. I think it’s the coolest thing ever, but it does put a little bit of pressure on me,” Hensley said. “But this isn’t for me though, this for Mike.”

The first bout takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Southern Park Mall between Sawa and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Hensley’s trip to nationals takes place Dec. 6-13. The Golden Girl Box Cup will be held between Jan. 29 and Feb. 1.