There was maybe a silver lining to Terri Harper being compelled off final weekend’s present in Dublin.
A dream alternative to look on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s long-overdue homecoming occasion was pulled from Harper on the morning of the struggle. The 2-division and defending WBA junior middleweight titlist was left with out an opponent when her challenger, former undisputed welterweight champ and pound-for-pound queen Cecila Braekhus, was too sick to even get away from bed.
It was a bittersweet ending to a nerve-racking struggle week, one which was admittedly extra overwhelming than anticipated. A brand new opponent was secured for the 26-year-old from Denaby Essential as she defends versus former welterweight titlist Ivana Habazin this weekend in additional acquainted environment at AO Area in Manchester, England.
“I really feel like the entire event form of acquired to me,” Harper admitted throughout Thursday’s last pre-fight press convention. “I’ve been out since September final 12 months. Simply the anxiousness of being in entrance of the media and press acquired to me slightly bit.
“Being again in Manchester the place I’ve fought a few occasions, I really feel a bit extra settled and at residence. I’ve been in struggle mode all week. I’m simply able to get within the ring. All this week has been extra time to do the job that ought to have been performed final week. I’m simply prepared for a scrap.”
Harper (13-1-1, 6KOs) will try the primary protection of the WBA junior middleweight title she gained in a ten-round, unanimous determination over Hannah Rankin final September 24 at Motorpoint Area in Nottingham. She made a three-weight leap to 154, just one struggle after transferring as much as light-weight from 130 the place she beforehand held the WBC title.
The eight-month hole between fights isn’t preferrred, although maybe much less so than having to make weight twice in a seven-day span and to solely have one struggle to point out for it. Harper did her job on the scales final weekend in Dublin, as she simply made weight for a deliberate supporting bout on a card the place Chantelle Cameron (18-0. 8KOs) efficiently defended her undisputed 140-pound crown in a minor upset win over Eire’s Taylor (22-1, 6KOs).
Ever the skilled, Harper maintained her struggle weight for one more weight and was by some means barely lighter on Friday than she was one week in the past. She was nicely beneath the restrict at 150.3 kilos and totally again into struggle mode.
“The very fact they acquired me on the market made it slightly simpler,” Harper stated of the extraordinary effort made by Matchroom to safe Habazin on such quick discover. “We had been imagined to be in Dublin till Monday. We had been again right here Sunday and within the gymnasium Sunday evening.
“I’ve been in struggle mode all week. I’m simply going within the ring with imply intentions. I really feel like that was lacking final week. I really feel the spite and I’m going to carry it in there.”
Harper-Habazin is certainly one of two title fights because of happen on DAZN this Saturday from Manchester. Leigh Wooden (26-3, 16KOs) is because of face Mauricio Lara (26-2-1, 19KOs), who was grossly obese and compelled to vacate his WBA featherweight title which is simply at stake for Wooden assuming the struggle nonetheless strikes ahead.