Terri Harper was crowned the new WBO lightweight champion, as she took a unanimous decision victory over Rhiannon Dixon at the Park Community Arena in Sheffield on Saturday.
Dixon (10-1, 1 KOs) took the vacant WBO title in April, dropping Karen Elizabeth Carabajal on the way to a clear points victory. Harper (15-2-2, 6 KOs), came into this one as a former super featherweight and super welterweight world champion, but ‘Belter’ dropped down to welterweight for her last contest, which saw her retire after four rounds against Sandy Ryan, also for the WBO world title.
Harper made a terrific start in this one, landing plenty of times with her back hand as she cruised to the first three rounds.
Dixon was struggling to close the distance, which played into Harper’s hands, although the champion did shake up the 27-year-old in round six with a meaty right hook.
The Doncaster native regrouped and stuck to her boxing for the next couple of frames, and the penultimate round saw her rock the Warrington southpaw, as she looked to ram home her advantage.
The contest came to a breathless close, and Harper took a momentous win to become a three-weight world champion by two scores of 97-93, and a third at 96-94.
Harper could now be lined up for a unification clash with IBF titlist, Beatriz Ferreira who is also signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, while Dixon lost for the first time as a professional.
McGrail folds Foster
The other ten rounder on the bill saw super bantamweight talent Peter McGrail (10-1, 6 KOs) in ruthless form, as the Liverpudlian blasted out former British and Commonwealth champion, Brad Foster (15-4-2, 5 KOs) in two rounds.
A sweeping body shot did the damage, with Foster unable to regain his bearings and the fight was waved off, with ‘The Blade’ suffering the first stoppage defeat of his career.
Yafai moves on to Edwards clash after stoppage
Galal Yafai warmed up for his meeting with Sunny Edwards later this year by stopping Sergio Oroczo Oliva in the third round of their flyweight meeting.
Orozco (9-9, 7 KOs) was given a standing count following a brutal volley of punches from Yafai (8-0, 6 KOs) and referee Michael Alexander waved the bout off.
The 2020 Olympic gold medalist faced off with Edwards ahead of their November 30 showdown, which will be for the WBC interim flyweight title.
Remaining Undercard
Jimmy Sains (7-0, 7 KOs) remained perfect, as he took a second round stoppage against Omir Rodriguez (15-21-1, 6 KOs) at middleweight, while at super featherweight, Ibraheem Sulaimaan (5-0, 3 KOs) took a technical decision win after four rounds against Kevin Trana (15-20-3, 9 KOs), following a head clash.
Super bantamweight hope, Brandon Scott (8-0, 1 KO) was another technical decision winner, as he won 59-56 against Calum Turnbull (5-3, 1 KO), after another head clash halted their contest.
Just too good 😮💨 @GiorgioVisioli drops and stops Diego Lagos in the third round 👏
Not even out of first gear 🤷♂️ #VisioliLagos #DixonHarper pic.twitter.com/JY35SgYxw3
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 28, 2024
Bantamweight Josh Babb (3-0) was a close 58-57 winner against Kelvin Madjid (2-2-1) and at super featherweight, Giorgio Visioli (5-0, 4 KOs) stopped Diego Lagos (11-5, 5 KOs) in three rounds.
Connan Murray (9-1, 2 KOs) was upset over the six round distance against Marco Simmonds (3-2), who took a 58-56 verdict in their super welterweight meeting, and middleweight George Liddard (9-0, 5 KOs) dropped George Davey (9-2-1, 2 KOs) twice on route to a fifth round stoppage success.
