Rhiannon Dixon speaks at the final press conference ahead of her WBO lightweight title fight against Terri Harper – Photo by Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing
When she first grabbed her WBO lightweight belt, Rhiannon Dixon didn’t think much of it.
“I didn’t celebrate that much when I won the title because I thought I was rubbish! I actually came out of the ring and was like, ‘that was so embarrassing’,” said Dixon (10-0, 1 KO), who will try to defend her belt against Terri Harper at Sheffield’s Canon Medical Arena this coming Saturday defend.
After a while, the 29-year-old title holder did realize the importance of her performance, even though she still feels she has to earn it again in every outing.
“I feel like I have a point to prove now. I feel like I haven’t even shown half of what I can do.”
Dixon, currently rated No. 3 by The Ring at lightweightwill have to show the other half her hidden talents and then some against the dangerous Harper, a former titleholder in her own right who will be by far Dixon’s biggest challenge yet.
“This is definitely my toughest fight – I have no illusions about that – but it’s a fight I’ve been ready for for a long time, and one I’m really excited for. When I win this weekend, it catapults me into these massive fights, which is something I’m really excited about.”
Harper (14-2-2, 6 KOs) feels like she should be the favorite in this fight, but Dixon begs to differ.
“With peace and love, I believe she says things she doesn’t really believe. That’s why I laughed when she said she was going to stop me, because I thought, ‘that’s not going to happen, is it?’
One of the reasons Harper may have thought Dixon didn’t belong up there was probably Dixon’s lack of experience. After all, this will be the southpaw champion’s first defense of a belt she lifted against Karen Carabajal in a vacant title fight, which was Dixon’s 10th career bout. But she claims she has already left those insecurities behind as well.
“It boosted my confidence a lot,” Dixon said of her belts. “When I was first on DAZN cards I had a bit of impostor syndrome because I only had seven white collar fights. Going from Commonwealth to European Champion to World Champion boosted my confidence. I belong at this point.
“I’m excited to show everything I’ve learned since then. I still can’t believe it when I’m referred to as a World Champion. I honestly can’t believe it. I feel this is just the beginning. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
A press release by Mathroom was used in this article.
