Rhiannon Dixon/Terri Harper: We Got There In The End

By FightPost: MMA & Boxing News on 15th Sep 2024

The circumstances might have been unfortunate, especially to Dalton Smith and Johnny Fisher, the respective injuries both suffered have promoted a little bit of a shuffle of the pack, but thankfully the on/off WBO world lightweight title fight between Rhiannon Dixon and Terri Harper has not only survived multiple changes of dates and venue, but it has now been gifted main event status on September 28th at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield. The fight could have been delayed again. Or even lost altogether. Dixon and Harper will be incredibly grateful that the cards have dropped in their favour. As they say, we got there in the end.

The all-British world title showdown was always deserving of that lofty headline position. That smaller-sized arena in Sheffield is practically the perfect venue for a fight that could create a new star or even potentially be the end of a career. There is so much on the line, certainly far more than the WBO bauble that both fighters will trade blows for.

The Harper faithful will undoubtedly pack that new Sheffield arena. They will also be incredibly vocal and unlike in a much larger setting, and on a show where they are not the main attraction, their sound will reverberate around that tightly compact arena. A few thousand fully invested fans roaring them on. Same fight. Different atmosphere. Totally different perception. Trust me, that matters.

Harper will bring something different for Dixon. A step up in class. There are some naysayers saying that the Denaby two-weight world champion is on the slide, an opinion formed on her disappointing recent form, especially her one-sided mauling at the hands of Sandy Ryan last time out. But at 27, you'd suspect that Harper still has big nights ahead of her. A more accurate argument could be has Harper just found her level? Make no mistake, her fight with Rhiannon Dixon on September 28th will tell us plenty. Harper will likely learn just how much of a future she still has. If any. A win changes everything. A world title at a third weight would give Harper a little slice of history. But a defeat in the same manner as the one against Ryan could end everything.

But despite everything being on the line for Harper, having the fight on virtual home territory in Sheffield is a much-needed boost for her. Her loyal fans will pack that arena. They will cheer forcefully. They will undoubtedly boo Dixon. Probably extremely heavily. For the Warrington fighter, that will be a new experience for her. And a valuable one.

Dixon has graduated from a raw prospect with that white-collar background to a triple champion with Commonwealth, European and now World honours to her name. Ten fights. Ten wins. She has done little wrong in her unbeaten career. Dixon has passed every single test. But Harper represents, and by some distance, her toughest challenge to date.

But the pre-fight betting odds tell a different story. Dixon, at 1-5, is odds on to turn back the challenge of Harper. The challenger at 7-2 does indicate some value if you fancy the upset. For balance, Harper was a much bigger underdog in March against Sandy Ryan.

But whatever the outcome and no matter how we got here, the fact that Rhiannon Dixon and Terri Harper have got centre stage is a cause for much celebration, and at a time when their side of the sport needs it the most.