Rhiannon Dixon: “I am coming back to win world titles.”

Rhiannon Dixon: “I am coming back to win world titles.”

Rhiannon Dixon hasn’t fought since losing her unbeaten record and her WBO world lightweight title to Terri Harper in September 2024. But the 31-year-old is edging ever nearer to a long-awaited comeback. Social media posts have been scarce of late, but a little clip on her Instagram on Monday evening was an informal announcement that her return to the ring was imminent.

“Everybody is making a big deal out of it,” Dixon told FightPost over Zoom. “People are saying I’m so glad you are back boxing. It’s nice.”

Dixon is now training with Stephen Smith in Liverpool. “It’s just logistics,” Dixon says of her new surroundings. “I’ve someone in my family who isn’t well. I just need to be closer to home. The 4 Corner Gym in Liverpool is only 20 minutes away. The Oldham gym is an hour away.”

Oldham is where Dixon has been for much of her career. Under the tutelage of the former world champion Anthony Crolla, Dixon found much success. The Warrington fighter won Commonwealth and European lightweight titles and, of course, her WBO world lightweight bauble. Dixon is fully appreciative of what Crolla has done for her career.

“I wouldn’t have achieved anything without Ant,” Dixon says. “I wouldn’t have left him if it wasn’t for personal matters.”

Now aligned with Stephen Smith, Dixon seems happy in her new gym. “I can’t even remember when I first met him, but I’ve known him for ages. I’m enjoying working with Stephen.”

Dixon is already back sparring with her new stablemate Jade Jones. “Stephen asked me to help Jade get ready for her next fight, so we did a few rounds. She is really nice. It’s good having other girls in the gym. I get on well with Liv (Holmes) as well. We get each other.”

After losing to Harper, Dixon was supposed to fight in March 2025, before a broken foot derailed her comeback. There were plans to drop down a division and fight at super-featherweight. That is still the plan a year or so later. “I make lightweight really easy,” Dixon relayed to me. “It’s not that I am not a lightweight. But in fight week, the way my body works, the weight just drops off me. I make the check weight really easy. I get to a point in camp where I have to eat a lot more. So super-featherweight could be a good shout.”

After so long out, Dixon is keen to get her career going again. “I want to fight before the end of the year. As soon as possible really.”

Dixon has renewed her management deal with Paul Ready, and they are actively seeking a new promoter. Matchroom, where she has enjoyed past success, is an obvious connection. But Jake Paul and his Most Valuable Promotions have an ever-expanding roster of elite female talent. MVP is another potential option for the next phase of her career. “I would love to go with MVP, because that is where everybody is,” Dixon says. “If everyone is in one place, it will be easier for me to get the big fights.”

Despite winning multiple major titles, Dixon has always been somewhat super critical of her past performances. That is something she wants to change going forward. “With being away so long, it feels as though I have been retired. So I’ve had a look at what retirement feels like. I don’t want to leave the sport with regrets. When I look back, I wish I could have enjoyed it more. All my fights, even when I won my world title, I didn’t enjoy them. I was always thinking what’s next or what I did wrong. When I won the world title, I wasn’t happy. I was just thinking what I did wrong in that fight.”

“But sometimes you have to be in the moment, and be proud of what you have achieved,” Dixon added. “I look at the belts, and I feel nothing. It shouldn’t be like that. But I feel I have been given another chance to do everything again. I am going to enjoy every bit of it now.”

Rhiannon Dixon has been a world champion before, and she intends to become one again. But this time, Dixon wants even more. “I am coming back to win world titles. I want to unify and go undisputed. That is the dream of everyone to stand in the ring with all the belts.”

Despite that long absence, at 31, Dixon has time on her side. There is still something of an underappreciation about her past achievements. After just a handful of white-collar fights, no amateur experience, winning a world title after just ten professional fights is something to be incredibly proud of. But there is now that desire to achieve more. Thoughts of revenge on Terri Harper still very much linger. The hunger to become a two-weight world champion is an even bigger drive for her.

It’s been a difficult few years for Dixon. The defeat to Harper came when a big unification showdown with Caroline Dubois was probably next for her. The foot injury took far longer than expected to sort itself out. In many ways, a career halted when it was about to go to a whole new level. But that second opportunity has presented itself. A brand new start, and one that Dixon hopes will end with more glory and a little more enjoyment.

Photo Credit: Matchroom Boxing