Terri Harper Defeats Rhiannon Dixon to Become Three-Weight World Champion
Terri Harper has made history once again, defeating fellow Briton Rhiannon Dixon to become a three-weight world champion.
Harper, 27, controlled most of the fight at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield, winning the WBO lightweight title by unanimous decision with scores of 97-93, 97-93, and 96-94. This victory adds to her collection of titles in the super-featherweight and light-middleweight divisions.
Harper, who hails from Doncaster, showed her experience and composure in the fight, landing precise counter-punches and controlling the distance. Despite a brief moment of danger in the sixth round, when Dixon rocked her with an uppercut, Harper quickly recovered.
“That’s the best one of my career. I’ve become a new fighter mentally and physically," Harper said after the fight. "There was one point where I was clocked, and I really had to dig deep, but I managed to recover quickly.”
Dixon loses first defence of WBO lightweight title
For Dixon, 29, the bout marked her first defence of the title she won in April, but Harper’s sharp counter-attacks and heavy punches in the later rounds proved too much for her.
Dixon's nose bled heavily during the fight, and although she showed resilience, Harper’s experience and slick boxing gave her the edge. Dixon, who had previously balanced her boxing career with a day job as a pharmacist, can still hold her head high despite the defeat.
Harper back on form after difficult bouts
The fight was a much-needed return to form for Harper, whose previous outings had been tough. She suffered a fourth-round stoppage loss to Sandy Ryan in March and drew against Cecilia Braekhus last year. The drop back down to lightweight seemed to suit her, as she appeared much more comfortable and in control compared to her recent fights at welterweight and light-middleweight.
Promoter Eddie Hearn praised Harper’s performance, calling it a brilliant fight and hinting at potential future matchups for the newly crowned champion. Possible opponents include IBF champion Beatriz Ferreira or even undisputed champions Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
“Harper makes history tonight,” Hearn said, emphasising the magnitude of her achievement.
With this win, Harper becomes the first British woman to claim titles in three different weight classes. Her journey, from fighting in small hall shows to becoming a world champion in multiple divisions, showcases her resilience and determination. For now, Harper looks poised to continue her career resurgence, while Dixon, despite the loss, will surely regroup and come back stronger.
