Rhiannon Dixon Set to Defend WBO Lightweight Title Against Terri Harper

Rhiannon Dixon is gearing up for her first defense of the WBO lightweight title against former two-division champion Terri Harper. This exciting match will take place on August 24th, during the Jack Catterall vs. Regis Prograis event hosted by Matchroom.

Dixon (10-0, 1 KO) secured her belt last April by defeating veteran Karen Elizabeth Carabajal in a decision on the Zelfa Barrett vs. Jordan Gill undercard. Initially, Dixon was slated for an IBF title fight against Caroline Dubois, but those plans fell through. With Beatriz Ferreira preoccupied with Paris 2024 and Dubois without a title, Dixon arguably stands as the leading post-Katie Taylor lightweight in the sport.

Terri Harper (14-2-2, 6 KO) has had a notable career, having been a top contender at 130 pounds before a significant loss to Alycia Baumgardner in 2021. Harper then moved up to super welterweight, swiftly capturing the WBA belt due to the division's limited depth. She faced a controversial draw against Cecilia Braekhus, preventing her from adding the WBO belt to her collection. Following this, a drop to 147 pounds resulted in a tough bout against Sandy Ryan. Baumgardner went on to become the undisputed champion, and Ryan has proven to be a formidable opponent. Despite not weighing in below 146 pounds since 2022, Harper should comfortably make the 135-pound limit, as she barely exceeded 150 pounds at super welterweight.

This bout promises to be a thrilling contest between two highly skilled fighters, each eager to prove their dominance in the lightweight division.