Rhiannon Dixon Lands World Title Shot in Manchester

Rhiannon Dixon Lands World Title Shot in Manchester

The unbeaten Warrington lightweight prospect Rhiannon Dixon will take the next step in her career when she fights Argentina’s Karen Elizabeth Carabajal for the vacant WBO world lightweight title in Manchester on April 13th on a bill topped by a big domestic super-featherweight showdown between Jordan Gill and Zelfa Barrett with world title aspirations very much on the line.

Dixon has been matched perfectly so far in her nine-fight career and has moved effortlessly and impressively to the world title picture. 2023 saw the former white-collar fighter pick up the Commonwealth and European titles, and the new year will start with an enticing fight against the once-beaten Carabajal at the AO Arena live on DAZN.

Only Katie Taylor has beaten the Argentinian in twenty-two fights, but it does seem like a bit of inspired matchmaking again for Dixon. Make no mistake, despite her limited experience in the sport, it does seem a more than winnable fight for the talented Anthony Crolla-trained prospect.

Dixon has improved steadily since making her professional debut in 2019, but the previous twelve months is where we have seen the potential firmly unlocked especially last time out when she eased past the former world title challenger Katharina Thanderz with her best performance to date. It was a seriously impressive performance at the old Wembley Arena. A fight where she proved she showed great maturity and left little doubt that she was now ready for fights at world level. Dixon said pre-fight it would be her coming out party. And it was.   

Almost certainly the most-improved fighter of 2023, Rhiannon Dixon will enter 2024 with a chance to crown herself a world champion. A scenario that might have looked highly unlikely not so long ago. But now, it looks more than likely.

Dixon told me in 2020, “First I want to get more experience, take my time and be the best I can, I have only been boxing for 3 or 4 years and hopefully eventually get into a position where I can fight for titles.” That sensible approach has now been rewarded with a world title opportunity that she is more than capable of winning.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing