The FightPost Comeback of the Year: Terri Harper

The FightPost Comeback of the Year: Terri Harper

It’s the time for festive cheer, but it’s also time for the obligatory end-of-year honours. The last twelve months have been difficult for women’s boxing. Much of the momentum from previous years has been lost. Waining interest. Fights were incredibly hard to come by. But there is renewed hope that 2025 will be different. In truth, it has to be different.

But despite the difficulties, 2024 has still thrown up a few little gems to celebrate.

Terri Harper started the year with that one-sided mauling at the hands of Sandy Ryan in Sheffield. An attempt to become a three-weight champion of the world ended in the realisation that the WBO welterweight bauble holder was just too big her. Many suspected it was something more.

Since leaving her super-featherweight days behind and moving up to super-welterweight a few years ago, despite winning a world title at 154, Harper had struggled somewhat. The move back down to 147 seemed a sensible decision. But Ryan was too much for her. Three rounds that saw Harper more than struggle with the relentless pressure of Ryan. The decision to pull her out before the 4th round was an act of mercy. Saving the Denaby fighter for another day. But would there be another date day?

But Harper got a second opportunity at a third-world title in September. The unbeaten Rhiannon Dixon defended her WBO world lightweight title against Harper. Harper was perceived to be a fighter on the decline. The last throw of the dice. Even Harper knew her career would probably be over if Dixon repeated what Sandy Ryan did six months earlier.

The pre-fight betting odds favoured Dixon. And heavily so. All the talk was what did Harper have left? And would the move back down to lightweight take too much out of her? The signs were not good for Harper.

But the Warrington fighter was jumping up in class to fight Harper. Dixon hadn’t previously faced anyone with the top-flight experience of Terri Harper. Was this too much too soon for her? Despite those overwhelming odds, this was very much a fight of intrigue. Who was catching who at the right time?

Harper needed a good start. And she got one. I could only give the reigning champion one of the first five rounds. But Dixon came roaring back in the 6th round. Harper was visibly hurt, and she looked ready to go. But she used that greater experience to survive the crisis. From ringside, I gave Dixon the 7th round as well, as Harper used the two minutes to complete her recovery from near disaster. Harper swept the final three rounds to claim her third world title by unanimous scores of 96-94, 97-93, 97-93.

At 27, Terri Harper was completely written off by many after her fight with Sandy Ryan. But her win over the previously unbeaten Rhiannon Dixon has not only saved her career, but 2025 now promises more big nights. Rival world champions Beatriz Ferreira and Caroline Dubois want to fight Harper next year. A fighter in demand should be able to go to the highest bidder. That crucial, career-saving victory, was beyond important.

For the win over Dixon, which brought her back from the brink, Terri Harper has earned the FightPost Comeback of the Year for 2024.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing