Terri Harper has paid her dues. The former WBC junior lightweight titleholder was barely 21 years old when she turned professional and fought her way up from nowhere to take her place on the front line as women’s boxing exploded in popularity.
On Sept. 28, Harper will challenge newly crowned WBO lightweight belt holder Rhiannon Dixon in Sheffield, England.
In March, Harper (14-2-2, 6 KOs) was stopped inside four rounds by a ruthless Sandy Ryan in a bid for the WBO welterweight title. In her previous fight, she had to settle for a draw with legendary veteran Cecilia Braekhus after a close nip-and-tuck battle for the vacant WBA junior middleweight belt.
Harper knows that she has been given a third consecutive world title shot based on her reputation and past accomplishments, but she is determined not to let it pass her by.
Although she likes and respects Dixon (10-0, 1 KO), Harper is all too aware that her career is on the line and that any semblance of friendship must be cast to one side.
“One hundred percent,” she told BoxingScene. ”This is the game. Once we’re in the ring, for me, this is the last roll of the dice and this is probably my last big shot.
“It’s an opportunity that I’m very grateful that I’ve been given. Coming off my last couple of performances, to then jump straight back into a world title fight, I understand how lucky I am and fortunate to be in this position. And it’s mine to lose.
“So I’m here and I’m going to make a good statement from the start and get the win – a good, solid win.”
Harper is still only 27 years old, but she is rolling back the clock ahead of the make-or-break fight with Dixon.
She enjoyed a long and successful run with Stefy Bull but will have her old amateur coach, Paul Durose, in her corner. And after fighting Braekhus at 154 pounds and challenging Ryan at 147 pounds, dropping back down the weight divisions has seen Harper rediscover her old enthusiasm for the sport.
Moving through the weight classes opened up different opportunities for Harper, but she was never quite able to hit the heights she did during her time as a junior lightweight.
Lightweight should suit her frame perfectly and – should she impress against Dixon – there are enough high-profile fighters at 135 pounds to ensure that the remainder of her career is played out at the highest level.
If Harper is going to relaunch herself, the conditions appear perfect for her to do so.
“There’s no pun intended, but I think being back on the diet and stuff, it just makes you hungrier for the win and you just feel like throughout camp, you’re making all these sacrifices and it’s going to make that victory even sweeter,” Harper said. ”I feel like I kind of lost that a bit up at the heavier weights and kind of lost my love a bit for the sport.
“But I’ve just come back down to a more natural weight. I’ve got Paul Durose, my old amateur coach. He’s been on board for this training camp and he’s just allowed me to get that fire burning again and get me hungry and want to be on the big stage and putting on good performances, really.
“There were times after the Sandy Ryan fight I was thinking, ‘Where do I go from here? Have I done everything that I can do in my career? Is it time for me to go find my next adventure?’ But I begged Paul to come back out of retirement for me, and as soon as I walked through the gym doors and Paul had taken over my training, I just knew I made the right decision. He’s made me hungry for the win and it’s got that fire burning again.”
John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79