Dixon v Harper: The 'cursed' world title fight finally takes place

Terri Harper was alternatively reluctantly tucking into immoderate porridge - mixed pinch courgette to "add volume" - erstwhile nan telephone rang.

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

"It's happening again, is this conflict cursed?" Harper asked herself.

The bout was owed to return spot astatine Manchester's Co-op Live arena successful August earlier an wounded to main arena combatant Jack Catterall.

It was rescheduled to nan Utilita Arena successful Sheffield for nan pursuing month, and past changed to London's Copper Box erstwhile Dalton Smith pulled retired pinch an injury.

After heavyweight Fisher's withdrawal, however, promoters Matchroom insisted nan conflict went ahead.

Harper and Dixon were moved backmost to Sheffield and upgraded to nan apical of nan card, albeit astatine nan overmuch smaller Canon Medical Arena.

"I'm conscionable gutted for everyone who has picked up injuries," Harper tells BBC Sport earlier Saturday's bout.

"I'm conscionable being very observant and getting wrapped up successful bubble wrap."

A week connected from Daniel Dubois' stunning triumph complete Anthony Joshua successful beforehand of a grounds 96,000 fans astatine Wembley Stadium, different all-British world-title title will return spot successful a much low-key setting.

The 2,500 capacity venue is nan country's first carbon-neutral built arena and is location to nan Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters hoops teams.

"I've ever said I'd emotion to conflict astatine location for illustration York Hall, a mini and aggravated atmosphere, but you request to beryllium observant what you wish for," Harper jokes.

"It will beryllium a spot for illustration going backmost to mini hallway boxing and I benignant of for illustration that. It will beryllium friendly pinch nan crowd."

The WBA light-middleweight champion drew a unification conflict pinch Cecilia Braekhus successful October and was past stopped successful nan 4th information by WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan successful March.

While she has nary regrets astir jumping betwixt different divisions, Harper feels she is now astatine a much "natural" weight aft realising she "wasn't large capable for nan heavier divisions".

Harper is simply a erstwhile super-featherweight champion, truthful will activity to go a three-weight champion against Warrington's 29-year-old Dixon who has won each 10 pro bouts.

"Rhiannon does punctual maine of myself. She keeps herself to herself, location are nary bad aliases transverse words, smack talk aliases ego," Harper says.

Having enjoyed awesome occurrence pinch long-time trainer Stefy Bull, Harper has "dragged" her aged amateur coach, Paul Durose, retired of status aft conclusion to Derby's Ryan.

"I needed thing caller and to get nan occurrence burning. I mislaid nan emotion for nan athletics to a constituent wherever I could person walked away," she adds.

She describes nan conflict arsenic a "last rotation of nan dice" but falls short of confirming whether would bent up nan gloves pinch a loss.

"Would I want to rebuild connected boxing and spot what different doors mightiness unfastened for me? For now I've benignant of pushed that for 1 side," she says.