Stefanie Cohen Magarici, better known as Stefi Cohen, the celebrated powerlifter and boxing professional, has once again found herself at the center of legal turmoil. On July 2, 2025, Cohen was arrested in Miami on charges of domestic violence battery, marking her second significant run-in with the law in just over a year. This latest incident casts a shadow over the 33-year-old athlete's otherwise stellar career and public image.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, the altercation occurred on July 1, 2025, around 12:47 p.m. at a Miami-area residence shared by Cohen and her boyfriend, Tristan Hamm, who is also a professional boxer and social media influencer. The pair had been dating for approximately 18 months. The dispute reportedly began over their relationship when Hamm noticed Cohen was recording their conversation on her computer. Feeling uneasy, Hamm grabbed his phone and slipped it into his pocket, which led to Cohen becoming physical in an attempt to retrieve the device.
Hamm told officers that Cohen scratched him on his neck and chest and tore his pants pocket during the confrontation. Cohen, however, gave a different account, alleging that Hamm struck her with a closed fist and scratched her face. Yet, the police report noted that no physical evidence supported Cohen’s claims, especially considering that Hamm is a professional fighter. Conversely, Hamm’s injuries aligned with his statement. Ultimately, Cohen was charged with domestic violence battery.
This arrest comes just over a year after Cohen’s previous brush with the law. In May 2024, she was arrested at her Coconut Grove home on multiple charges, including sexual cyberharassment, unauthorized computer access, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest without violence. The prior incident involved Cohen allegedly hacking into her ex-boyfriend’s laptop and iCloud account after he had left the device behind in March 2022. She reportedly guessed his password, accessed private nude photos of his new girlfriend, and disseminated them within a group chat with the intent to “expose and humiliate” the woman, according to police reports.
The victim and Cohen's ex-boyfriend reported the cyberharassment to Miami detectives in November 2023. When authorities came to arrest Cohen in May 2024, she reportedly resisted by walking briskly away from the arresting officers and physically confronting them. Police detailed that Cohen “tensed up her arms” and hooked one officer’s leg, causing him to fall. Even after being handcuffed and placed in the back of a squad car, Cohen attempted to unlock the door by manipulating the latch with her toes, ultimately breaking the locking mechanism. She was booked at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and released after posting a $3,300 bond, with a court order barring her from contacting her ex-boyfriend and his new partner.
Despite these legal troubles, Cohen’s athletic accomplishments are formidable. She holds 25 world records in powerlifting, including the all-time records for squat, total, and deadlift in the 123-pound weight class. According to Men’s Health, she is widely recognized as the strongest female powerlifter in history and was the first woman to lift four times her body weight in 2018. Beyond powerlifting, Cohen has pursued a professional boxing career, boasting a record of four wins, one loss, and one draw. Her most recent victory was a unanimous decision over Elsi Cervantes in June 2023.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Cohen grew up playing soccer and even represented the national Venezuelan soccer team, though she has described the experience as less glamorous than it sounds due to limited funding and playing on dirt fields. She moved to Miami at age 17 and pursued higher education, beginning at San Diego State University before transferring to the University of Miami. There, she studied Pre-Med and Exercise Physiology and later earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2018.
Cohen’s introduction to powerlifting came during her doctoral studies, introduced by her then-fiancé. She has since become a celebrated figure in strength sports and fitness, gaining over one million followers on Instagram under the handle Dr. Stefi Cohen. In 2023, she and Tristan Hamm launched an eight-week training program called the REVIVED Method, which combines compound movements, joint-specific exercises, and functional isolation exercises to strengthen the body from the inside out.
While her followers admire her athletic prowess and dedication, Cohen’s recent legal troubles have complicated her public image. The Miami-Dade Police Department has not released further details about her July 2025 arrest, and Cohen has not publicly commented on the domestic violence allegations. Her Instagram page was set to private following the incident.
The domestic violence arrest is particularly notable given the contrasting narratives between Cohen and her boyfriend, and the fact that both parties are professional fighters adds a complex dimension to the case. The police report’s emphasis on the lack of physical evidence supporting Cohen’s claims and the consistency of injuries on Hamm suggests the authorities found the boyfriend’s account more credible.
Looking back, Cohen’s previous arrest in May 2024 also involved a physical confrontation with law enforcement, highlighting a pattern of resistance during legal encounters. This history, combined with the current charges, raises questions about the pressures and challenges faced by public figures balancing personal struggles and high-profile careers.
As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how these legal issues will impact Cohen’s career in powerlifting and boxing, as well as her influence in the fitness community. With her significant achievements and dedicated fan base, many will be watching closely to see how she navigates this turbulent chapter.
Stefi Cohen’s story is a potent reminder that behind the impressive records and public personas, athletes and influencers face personal battles that can dramatically alter their lives and legacies.