Dixon vs. Harper: The “cursed” fight for the world title is finally happening

Terri Harper was eating some porridge – mixed with zucchini to “add volume” – when the phone rang.

The 27-year-old, who cut weight for her world title fight against WBO lightweight champion Rhiannon Dixon on September 28, was told headliner Johnny Fisher had suffered an injury.

“It's happening again, is this fight cursed?” Harper wondered.

The fight was due to take place at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester in August before Jack Catterall, the main event fighter, was injured.

The date was moved to the Utilita Arena in Sheffield the following month and then moved to London's Copper Box when Dalton Smith was ruled out through injury.

However, following heavyweight Fisher's withdrawal, promoter Matchroom insisted the fight would go ahead.

Harper and Dixon were moved back to Sheffield and promoted to the top of the list, albeit at the much smaller Canon Medical Arena.

“I'm just disappointed for everyone who has picked up injuries,” Harper told BBC Sport ahead of Saturday's fight.

“I’m just being very careful and wrapping myself in bubble wrap.”

An “intimate” venue and a “natural weight”

A week after Daniel Dubois's stunning victory over Anthony Joshua in front of a record 96,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, another all-British world title contest will take place in a more low-key setting.

The 2,500 capacity venue is the country's first carbon neutral arena and is home to the Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters basketball teams.

“I've always said I'd love to fight in a place like York Hall, a small and intense atmosphere, but you have to be careful what you wish for,” jokes Harper.

“It will be a bit like going back to small venue boxing and I kind of like that. It will be an intimate contact with the audience.”

The WBA light middleweight champion fought a unification bout with Cecilia Braekhus in October and was then stopped in the fourth round by WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan in March.

Although she doesn't regret switching between different divisions, Harper feels like she's at a more “natural” weight now after realizing she “wasn't big enough for the heavier divisions.”

Last roll of the dice for Harper?

Harper is a former super featherweight champion and will therefore be looking to become threeweight champion against 29-year-old Dixon, from Warrington, who has won all 10 professional fights.

“Rhiannon reminds me of myself. She keeps to herself, there are no bad or bad words, no shame or selfishness,” says Harper.

Harper has had great success with long-time trainer Stefy Bull and “dragged” her old amateur trainer Paul Durose out of retirement after the loss to Derby's Ryan.

“I needed something fresh to get the fire going. I lost my love for the sport so much that I could have quit,” she adds.

She describes the fight as a “final roll of the dice” but cannot confirm whether she would give up if she lost.

“Do I want to focus on boxing again and see what other doors might open for me? At the moment I’ve kind of pushed it to one side,” she says.

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