HARPER TAKES TOP BILLING

Doncaster’s world champion defends title in Eddie Hearn’s back garden

BOXING RETURNED in Eddie Hearn’s back garden last week and if that was not surreal enough, a women’s world title fight taking top billing in week two merely adds to the feeling that these are changing times.

Hearn has opened up his garden – albeit a huge piece of real estate – to get the sport moving again following the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent ban on fans at sporting events.

That a women’s bout has got such a high profile so early in the sport’s return says everything about the growth of the women’s fight game, and the role Hearn’s Matchroom Sports have played in accelerating that.

Having a fighter of the character and ability of Terri ‘Belter’ Harper, certainly helps.

The 23-year-old from Doncaster emerged from relative obscurity to win the WBC and IBO world super featherweight titles back in February in Sheffield, and behind Irish superstar fighter Katie Taylor, is fast becoming one of the most marketable assets in women’s boxing.

She already has the rare accolade of being a British woman winning a world title.

And she will look to defend those belts this evening against Natasha Jonas at the Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex.

Victory over Eva Wahlstrom in February solidified Harper’s status as a rising star and was also her 10th successive victory since quitting working in her local chip shop to pursue a career as a professional boxer.

Five of those wins have come by way of knockout, but Harper will be happy to wear down her opponent tonight.

Jonas was Britain’s first ever Olympic women’s boxer, but Harper said: “For me, professional and amateur boxing are two completely different styles.

“We’re not going to do anything daft. We’re not just going to be looking for a stoppage.

“I’m going to use my engine that for some reason Natasha thinks could be a bad thing. I’m going to work Natasha all night and break her down.

“Tasha gets caught quite a lot and I’m a big strong super-featherweight.

“When I get in the ring I’m easily a good 10 or 12 pounds heavier than what I was at the weighin the day before. I’ve got a bit of meat behind my punches and I strongly believe I could get a stoppage over Tasha.”

Leeds featherweight Hope Price fights Jonny Phillips over eight rounds on the undercard.