Rhiannon Dixon: A Touch of Star Potential?

Rhiannon Dixon: A Touch of Star Potential?

Rhiannon Dixon has come a long way in her short time in boxing. It is some story, and one you suspect is only getting started. That short stay in white-collar boxing wasn’t supposed to lead to anything else. But it did.

Dixon challenges Karen Elizabeth Carabajal for the vacant WBO world lightweight title at the AO Arena in Manchester on Saturday night live on DAZN. A career that started out with the promise of very little, suddenly becomes a whole lot more if the Warrington fighter inflicts the second defeat on the resume of the tough Argentinian who has only lost to Katie Taylor in twenty-three professional fights.

“I certainly never had a sports career in mind,” Dixon told me in early 2020. The unbeaten Warrington lightweight hopeful was then a fledgling 2-0 newly turned professional fighting on the small hall scene. But even back then, she was thinking of titles.

“I want to get more experience, take my time and be the best I can, I have only been boxing 3 or 4 years and hopefully eventually get into a position where I can fight for titles.” 2023 brought her titles. She is now on the brink of punching her way into the upper echelons of her sport.

Dixon was still a full-time pharmacist in 2020. Four years at university had led to a career on an NHS ward. Within a few weeks of that first interview, Dixon was on the front line dealing with the horrors of the pandemic. She told me the mental reslience that awful experience brought her. You sense that teak tough reslience will serve her well as her career advances to the next stage.

But once the world started turning over again after the pandemic started to slowly fade away, Dixon started again also. Anthony Crolla came her way. So did Eddie Hearn and his Matchroom promotional powerhouse. The pharmacist career was left behind as her boxing career started to flourish. Those unbeaten twelve white-collar fights were the catalyst to a professional career of much promise. But even in 2020, there was something about Dixon that offered hope of something more.

Her training partner and best friend James Moorcroft told me in 2020, “I think Rhiannon’s capable of going all the way to becoming a world champion.” His prophecy now has more than a ring of truth about it. The Commonwealth and European titles are already in her possession. The pre-fight odds suggest the biggest belt of them all will soon be hers also.

Another crucial change in the Rhiannon Dixon inner circle was the introduction of Paul Ready and his STN Sports management company. The inspired hook-up has allowed Dixon to concentrate solely on her boxing. The benefits since becoming a full-time fighter are obvious.

Ahead of her maiden world title fight this weekend, Ready told FightPost.

“Rhiannon Dixon is one of the most underrated punchers in female boxing. Her record is very deceiving. This is our fifth fight together, third title fight, and I’d put her in with anyone in or around her weight in the next few fights.

“Expect a very disciplined and aggressive performance against Carabajal, with educated pressure. Rhiannon is one of my favourite fighters to work with as she doesn’t cause me any hassle or moans.”

Dixon is perhaps one of those emerging talents that hasn’t yet reached the audience that her talents inside a boxing ring or indeed her personality deserve. That personality is now starting to shine through. Except it to blossom further. In many ways, Rhiannon Dixon has a touch of star quality about her.

But her future will depend on what she does on Saturday night against an opponent who will head to Manchester with plenty of ambition. Carabajal will know a defeat will likely mean her days at this level are over. She will not fold easily.

Anything is possible in boxing, but the script isn’t likely to be ripped up on a night where a quite remarkable story could have another layer added to it.

The once overly self-critical raw fighter who probably had a touch of the imposter syndrome about her is no more. Dixon now knows she belongs. Saturday night is likely where she proves her worth at the top table.

Paul Ready firmly believes his fighter is ready for the next stage of her career. If that victory over Carabajal comes, how it arrives will tell us plenty. The Argentinian will come to fight. She will come to win. That will likely play into the hands of a fighter who has largely faced fighters who have only come to survive. Dixon will probably get to show us a little more of her skills on a night where it matters the most.

There have been improvements in every single fight. An evolution of steady but effective proportions. The matchmaking has been one of perfection. That continues on Saturday night. Carabajal looks the perfect next step. Dixon is very much part of the new world order in women’s boxing. Sadly, for Carabajal, I just feel she is from an era that is now being swept aside by the new breed of talent that is coming through. The women’s side of the growing rapidly. Ultimately, the old guard will not be able to go with it.

Another Paul Ready fighter Skye Nicolson added to that narrative in her incredibly one-sided victory over Sarah Mahfoud last weekend in Las Vegas. Nicolson claimed her first world title. The odds say that Dixon will match her in Manchester.

I believe Rhiannon Dixon will indeed have her moment in the sun and that she will shine in her moment of truth. The likely route to victory is a comprehensive points victory. But I wouldn’t totally rule out a win via a shorter route. Another chapter written. With more to follow.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing