TERRI Harper is now a three-weight world champion after defeating Rhiannon Dixon on points in Sheffield’s Park Community Arena. Dixon was making the first defence of her WBO lightweight title of what was expected to be the start of a lengthy run. Terri Harper proved otherwise. The judges totalled 97-93 (twice) and 96-94, all favouring “the new”.
Harper, supposedly damaged goods, was on point with her cleaner combinations throughout the first half of the fight. In the closing stages, she used her ring smarts and punch-picking to close things down. It was a mature performance by the 27-year-old.
Harper naturally felt the pace as it went on but still found a home for her rangy, accurate right hand across the southpaw lead. Dixon tucked up, tried to roll underneath and be busy as her head coach, Anthony Crolla, implored.
Boxing with a bloody nose, Dixon was buzzed in the ninth by a left hook as she attempted to brawl it out to keep her title. Harper stayed cool and slotted the return fire home. Howard Foster refereed.
“This camp has been a long one, but I’ve become a new fighter mentally and physically,” said Harper, who referred to this opportunity as the last roll of the dice.
“It’s just what I needed. I needed that bit of fire in the gym to get me going.”
Earlier in the evening, Peter McGrail continued his rebuilding process by blasting away Brad Foster in round two. Whipping body shots did the damage as Foster was left reeling on the canvas. McGrail proceeded to call out British and European super-bantamweight champion Dennis McCann for a bout early next year.
In the battle of Georges, Billericay’s George Liddard stopped York’s George Davey in round five of a scheduled eight.
Galal Yafai kept his November 30 date with destiny, aka Sunny Edwards, alive by stopping Mexico’s Sergio Orozco Oliva in the third of an eight.