Terri Harper Eyes Showdown with Caroline Dubois After WBO Title Win

Terri Harper, the first British female boxer to win world titles at three different weights, could be set for a mega fight against fellow UK fighter Caroline Dubois, sister of new IBF World Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.

Terri Harper Makes History in Sheffield

Terri Harper easily defeated Rhiannon Dixon in September. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Harper of Doncaster, England, wrote her name into the sport’s history books when she dethroned WBO lightweight champion Rhiannon Dixon at Sheffield’s Canon Medical Arena on September 28.

Now, Matchroom Boxing is looking to pit Harper, age 27, against Dubois, age 23, in a potential unification fight down the road.

Describing the meeting with Dixon as a “must win” for Harper, Matchroom Boxing’s CEO Frank Smith told SportsBoom.com: “It set up some great opportunities for the winner and one of those is the Caroline Dubois fight.”

“Caroline is a tremendous fighter, and she’s building a profile. She’s maturing as a person and becoming quite an outspoken character if you like, which I’d have never thought I’d have seen from first meeting her a few years ago.

Dubois is promoted by Ben Shalom of Boxxer.

Will Boxing Politics Get In Terri Harper’s Way?

Is Terri Harper vs Caroline Dubois feasible between two competing promoters? Photo: Boxxer

Representatives of the two promoters, including Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn, have recently been involved in a bitter war of words after he accused Shalom of deliberately avoiding a bout between Dubois’ stablemate Adam Azim and Dalton Smith.

“These are the fights (between Harper and Dubois) which need to be made,” said Frank Smith. “These are the fights, cross-promotional, which have to happen. Hopefully, if the fight does get made, then she (Dubois) doesn’t get pulled out.”

Dubois was recently named as interim champion by the World Boxing Council (WBC) following her victory over Maira Moneo in August. The designation makes her the mandatory challenger to Katie Taylor. Dubois will be upgraded to full champion if the Irishwoman is either stripped of the belt or vacates it.

Harper, who won titles at super-welterweight and super featherweight, entered her fight with the previously unbeaten Dixon coming off a loss to welterweight Sandy Ryan of Derby, England.

Ryan has since lost her WBO title to American Mikaela Meyer. Mayer, the much bigger woman in the ring, proved too strong for Harper during their bout six months ago. It convinced Harper to step back down to her natural division at 140 pounds.

Fight for the Fans

“It’s our job to deliver the biggest fights for the public and our fighters. We want to make sure they get the best opportunities possible. It’s all about relationships. We don’t get into the ring. The reality is we don’t make another difference whatsoever because in the ring, the best person on the night comes through,” said Frank Smith

“We knew it was all set up for the winner,” he added. “With Terri beating Rhiannon – and fair play to her for taking the fight, because that’s what she wants, the best fights possible – it puts her right back in the mix. She was never really out of it, but she’s got the chance now to make a lot of money.”