Terri Harper defeats Rhiannon Dixon to become three-weight world Champion

Terri Harper produced one of her best performances, reigniting her career to become a three-weight world champion. Harper defeated the previously unbeaten Rhiannon Dixon by unanimous decision, capturing the WBO lightweight world title. Dixon was making a voluntary defence of her title, which she won in April following her win over Karen Carabajal.  

The victory sees Harper become the first British woman to win titles in three weight divisions, having previously won titles at light-middleweight, super-featherweight, and now lightweight. 

Harper, 27, controlled the distance with her jab, offsetting the southpaw Dixon and nullifying any attacks. Harper, who was hurt badly in the sixth, rallied well, boxing beautifully. She hurt Dixon multiple times in the final few rounds, as her stamina and experience proved the difference. 

All three judges scored the fight for Harper, two judges had the same scorecard of 97-93 and the other 96-94. Stefy Bull, Harper's trainer, and manager, said when I asked how he felt, "Terri made me so proud, I had no doubt that fighting at the right weight class of 135lbs would win another title". 

On the undercard, Giorgio Visioli, 21, destined to become a future world champion, defeated Diego Lagos in the third with a superbly timed body shot. Visioli hopes to fight for the commonwealth or British titles in the next twelve months. Galal Yafai, the 2020 gold medallist, had his own way against Sergio Olivia, winning easily in the third. Before the fight, he had agreed to face former world champion Sunny Edwards on 30 November.  

George Liddard, in his ninth fight, defeated George Davey with a hellacious right hand in the fifth with the performance of the evening. Liddard, 22, has an exciting career ahead if matched right in the next twelve months and hopes to challenge for the British title. 

The co-main event, Peter McGrail, had a stunning second round stoppage against Brad Foster with a hurtful body shot. Eddie Hearn, in the aftermath, stated he would love to make the fight against Dennis McCann, former European and British super-bantamweight champion, early in 2025.