Harper Beats Rankin On Points

Harper Beats Rankin On Points

It wasn’t a fight about size, it was a fight that was decided by skill. And Terri Harper had far too much in that department for a brave but ultimately outgunned Hannah Rankin in Nottingham.

Rankin badly needed a good start, and when it didn’t come her chances of victory were remote. Harper was sharper, and her punches looked heavier, Rankin struggled to get any offence off, and never really threatened to close the early lead Harper had predictably built up. Her punches lacked the authority of her opponent, and Rankin struggled to close the distance and find any kind of rhythm until it was far too late to save her night. And her titles.

Harper impressively swept through the opening four rounds, cutting Rankin by the left eye in the 2nd round in the process. From very early on, it looked like a long night for the Scottish fighter. And so it proved.

Rankin fleetingly threatened as the fight headed towards the second half. Harper was clearly slowing down, but still landing enough eye-catching shots to cement the majority of the closing rounds. The work of Rankin lacked conviction and some belief. But she admirably stuck to her task and never stopped trying to turn the tide.

The judges scored it, 98-92 98-92, and 97-93 which looked a little too close, but Harper won beyond doubt to become a two-weight world champion. And a very interesting future.

The move up to super-welterweight looked a risky one, but in truth, it always looked a shrewd move. The now WBA & IBO champion will look towards securing a rematch with old rival and now WBC & WBO super-welterweight champion Natasha Jonas. Harper said post-fight that’s why she came up through the weights, to secure that rematch of their bitterly contested fight in 2020 that ended in a highly-controversial draw and much bitterness. Jonas was denied what many thought was a deserved victory. Harper is now clearly looking to set the record straight. But will she get what she wants? Jonas now has the power she didn’t have before. To twist an old line from the Harper camp, it only happens if Jonas wants it.

Time will tell if many things can be resolved. They have history and Jonas is now on the other side of the boxing promotional world. Harper may well have to head back to Sky to get what she craves. Jonas has options herself, and she may well decide to go elsewhere and leave Harper chasing something she just can’t get.

But for now, Harper is back as a world champion on a night and in a fight where her class ultimately proved too much for Rankin.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing