Terri Harper vs, Cecilia Braekhus | DAZN - 7 October 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

Terri Harper vs Cecilia Braekhus title fight signed, date not known

Matchroom Boxing have announced that Terri Harper will defend her WBA junior middleweight title against former welterweight ruler Cecilia Braekhus, with a date and venue to be announced soon.

Harper (13-1-1, 6 KO) won the WBC 130 lb title in 2020 and made two defenses before getting smashed by Alycia Baumgardner in Nov. 2021, after which Harper moved up to lightweight for one fight and then made the leap all the way up to 154, where she beat Hannah Rankin to claim the WBA belt.

Harper, 26, is 15 years younger than her veteran opponent Braekhus (37-2, 9 KO), whose championship-level run began in 2009 when she claimed the WBC and WBA welterweight titles against Vinni Skovgaard, added the WBO title in 2010, and then went full undisputed in 2014 when she beat Ivana Habazin in Copenhagen.

She made 10 defenses of her undisputed crown — and 24 title defenses overall — before losing a controversial majority decision to Jessica McCaskill in Aug. 2020, then their rematch in Mar. 2021.

Braekhus has had only one fight since the back-to-back losses to McCaskill, a six-round win over journeywoman Marisa Joana Portillo last December in Oklahoma on a Golden Boy undercard, breaking what appeared at one point to be a retirement from the ring.

Braekhus recently had expressed interest in fighting Natasha Jonas, who holds the WBC, IBF, and WBO titles at 154, and like Harper is really fighting far over her natural weight. Harper and Jonas fought for Harper’s 130 lb title in Aug. 2020, in fact, going to a draw in the Matchroom headquarters back garden.

Harper vs Braekhus could fit nicely on any of Matchroom’s upcoming UK shows, but it could also headline a card, potentially Harper getting a close-to-home fight in Sheffield, or a true home fight in Doncaster, an idea that has been batted around a bit over the past few years.

[jameswilson]

Think Sheffield was mentioned as one of the spots on the list. Wondering who else will be on that bill.

[maverick23]

Think Sheffield was mentioned as one of the spots on the list. Wondering who else will be on that bill.

Dalton Smith will be on there.

I think their venue options are April 15th (Joyce be Zhang) or April 29th (potentially Fury vs Usyk) so have been waiting to see what happens before announcing it. Also probably waiting for Smith to fight and win next weekend.

[tony1234]

Not a seller for casual fans to subscribe for, just a card to watch if you've already paid and nothing better to do

[veriton]

Quite like Harper, she's good to watch, but I'm still not convinced by this 100 quid a year for dazn

[tonyevs]

I think Eddie saw Harper as the future for his female boxing crusade. to take over katie Taylor. She is young, very fan friendly in that she seems a really likeable person, scrubs up pretty good, and the bonus of being able to box competently enough for a woman.
However she really did get flattened by Baumgardner and it looks as if they steering her well away from anyone who can hit even the slightest bit hard ... the 41 year old Braekhus seems made to measure.

Terri Harper may be able to shift tickets - i not see her shifting too many DAZN subscriptions

[ashall2]

Think Sheffield was mentioned as one of the spots on the list. Wondering who else will be on that bill.

Dalton Smith will headline, maybe against Sam Maxwell, on either 15 April or 29 April.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I think Eddie saw Harper as the future for his female boxing crusade. to take over katie Taylor. She is young, very fan friendly in that she seems a really likeable person, scrubs up pretty good, and the bonus of being able to box competently enough for a woman.
However she really did get flattened by Baumgardner and it looks as if they steering her well away from anyone who can hit even the slightest bit hard ... the 41 year old Braekhus seems made to measure.

Terri Harper may be able to shift tickets - i not see her shifting too many DAZN subscriptions

yeh, she a baby at 26.

[tonyevs]

Yep - when a lot of top women boxers are pushing 40 .. when highly touted prospects like Lauren Price are a couple years older and just turning pro.
Terri Harper who is still only 26 is practically a baby.

*I think Lauren Price would quite easily beat Terri Harper right now - I also think Caroline Dubious would be 50/50 to beat Harper too.

[CaptainSpacerod]

viewforum.php?f=31

[jameswilson]

Yep - when a lot of top women boxers are pushing 40 .. when highly touted prospects like Lauren Price are a couple years older and just turning pro.
Terri Harper who is still only 26 is practically a baby.

*I think Lauren Price would quite easily beat Terri Harper right now - I also think Caroline Dubious would be 50/50 to beat Harper too.

I think the Sky female Olympians will flop badly. Caroline Dubois has to wait for Katie Taylor to retire and she will then likely have Mayer, Cameron, McKaskill and Baumgardner mopping the titles up en route to a nice tournament. That’s if Katie retired in the next 12-18months which isn’t a given.

Price and Artinsall I don’t think will amount to much although Price is obviously up in the weights where it’s very shallow.

[tonyevs]

When we got the likes of a 38yr old Natasha Jonas and the as mentioned Terri Harper who get defeated at 9st something then jump almost 2st and become world champions - then I think the likes of Lauren Price and Caroline Dubois won`t have any trouble picking up some world title belt ... even Artinsall, with her promoters, will be a sure bet to get a world title.

Womens boxing is really that bad.

[ashall2]

When we got the likes of a 38yr old Natasha Jonas and the as mentioned Terri Harper who get defeated at 9st something then jump almost 2st and become world champions - then I think the likes of Lauren Price and Caroline Dubois won`t have any trouble picking up some world title belt ... even Artinsall, with her promoters, will be a sure bet to get a world title.

Womens boxing is really that bad.

Jonas and Harper couldn’t beat anyone decent at 130 then jumped straight in with champions at 154 and beat them with ease.

It’s the equivalent of a male super featherweight failing to win a belt (or getting knocked out defending one) then jumping straight up to 154 and beating Charlo garbage.

[tonyevs]

Yes thats my point. In womens boxing the depth in talent is just not there - If there is a half decent fighter at your weight - or the one above, or even the weight above that too - then just fight someone a weight even higher.

Best of luck to Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas in being able to do this - and I hope they make some decent money too. But it just demonstrates how bad womens boxing is.

are there a cruiserweight and heavyweight womens world champions??

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Terri Harper will defend her WBA Super-Welterweight World Title against former world pound-for-pound No.1 Cecilia Braekhus on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s historic homecoming clash with Chantelle Cameron at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday May 20, live worldwide on DAZN.

Former WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight World Champion Harper (13-1-1 6 KOs) won the WBA 154lbs World Title by widely outpointing Scotland’s Hannah Rankin at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham in September last year – her first fight up at Super-Welterweight.

Norway’s Braekhus (37-2, 9 KOs), a former undisputed ruler at 147lbs, is attempting to become a two-division World Champion. ‘First Lady’, a modern pioneer of women’s boxing, held the WBC and WBA World Titles at Welterweight from 2009 to 2020, also picking up the WBO Title in 2010 and the IBF Title in 2014.

Braekhus lost the titles by majority decision to Jessica McCaskill in August 2020 in Downtown Tulsa, USA and lost again to ‘CasKILLA’ in a rematch at the American Airlines Center in Dallas in March 2021. McCaskill is the only fighter to have beaten Braekhus as a professional.

“This fight has been a long time coming but it will be worth the wait to be on such an amazing card,” said Harper. “All eyes around the world will be watching that night and I want to show everyone who Terri Harper is.”

"I'm very excited to challenge Terri Harper for the WBA 154lb. World Title on this tremendous card, my first time fighting in Ireland," said Braekus. "I've spent my entire career facing the toughest challenges and

this fight is another chapter."

“I’m delighted to announce the first undercard fight for what will be one of the greatest nights of boxing in Irish history on Saturday May 20 – and what a fight!” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Two-weight World Champion Terri Harper gets the biggest fight of her life as she makes the first defence of her WBA Super-Welterweight World Title against former pound-for-pound No.1 and undisputed Welterweight ruler Cecilia Braekus.

“Two unbelievable World Title fights already confirmed for Katie Taylor’s historic homecoming fight against undisputed Super-Lightweight Champion Chantelle Cameron and there’s still so much more to come. We’re building an incredible show on May 20 and we will be confirming the next undercard fight tomorrow - it’s another cracker! Roll on May 20 live worldwide on DAZN.”

“It is an honour to prepare Terri for a contest with arguably one of the greatest females of all time in Cecilia Braekhus,” said trainer and manager Stefy Bull. “This has just got a whole lot more exciting now we are sharing a bill with what I believe has the potential to be the best and most thrilling fight female boxing can deliver in Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron. Two of the best female fighters on the planet in an undisputed vs. undisputed clash – May 20 is going to be one hell of a night.”

"Cecilia has accomplished so much as the long reigning undisputed Welterweight Champion, we are excited that she is now getting this opportunity to challenge Teri Harper for the WBA Super-Welterweight World Title," said Tom Loeffler.

"Cecilia is one of the most accomplished female boxers in the sport with 3 Guinness Book World Records, we're excited to work with Eddie, Matchroom and DAZN again for Cecilia being on this tremendous show in Dublin, Ireland."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[Perseus]

How does a Katie Taylor fight come and go with no thread in the women's boxing forum???

DAZN put on a good show tonight.
Packed arena, good crowd, main event was a fun fight.
I had it 97-93 Cameron.
Cameron looked like she got the worst of it.....based on the very obvious damage to her face and head as compared to Katie..........but she won clearly imo.
She has clearly defeated McCaskill and Taylor in consecutive fights.
That should make Chantelle the top female boxer imo...

I don't think Katie will do any better in a rematch but I love the fact that she's going to do it.
We see so many boxers who just will not take a risky fight if it can be avoided that it is nice to see ANY boxer take a fight with someone who has already proven they can win.
Next week Wood is getting back in the ring with Lara.
WAR Wood...

[Ruthless-RKO]

How does a Katie Taylor fight come and go with no thread in the women's boxing forum???

DAZN put on a good show tonight.
Packed arena, good crowd, main event was a fun fight.
I had it 97-93 Cameron.
Cameron looked like she got the worst of it.....based on the very obvious damage to her face and head as compared to Katie..........but she won clearly imo.
She has clearly defeated McCaskill and Taylor in consecutive fights.
That should make Chantelle the top female boxer imo...

I don't think Katie will do any better in a rematch but I love the fact that she's going to do it.
We see so many boxers who just will not take a risky fight if it can be avoided that it is nice to see ANY boxer take a fight with someone who has already proven they can win.
Next week Wood is getting back in the ring with Lara.
WAR Wood...

Ther was a threa. It got moved to women section

[Perseus]

This is the women's section.
No thread about the fight here.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This is the women's section.
No thread about the fight here.

viewtopic.php?t=258144

Sorry. Looks like it got moved back to the B&I

[Ruthless-RKO]

There’s also an RBR on the British section too.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Terri Harper will clash with former world pound-for-pound #1 female boxer Cecilia Braekhus for the WBA and WBO S154-pound titles at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England on Saturday October 7th, live worldwide on DAZN. Harper-Braekhus will serve as the chief support bout for Leigh Wood’s WBA featherweight title defense against former two-time IBF champion Josh Warrington. Harpe and Braekhus were originally slated to square off for Harper’s WBA crown on the historic Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron show in Dublin earlier this year, but Braekhus was forced to withdraw from their fight on the morning of the event due to an illness.

A former WBC and IBO 130-pound champion, Harper (13-1-1 6 KOs) won the WBA 154-ound title by outpointing Scotland’s Hannah Rankin in Nottingham in September last year – her first fight at junior middleweight. Norway’s Braekhus (37-2, 9 KOs), a former undisputed ruler at 147 pounds, is attempting to become a two-division champion. ‘First Lady’, a modern pioneer of women’s boxing, held the WBC and WBA championships at welterweight from 2009 to 2020, also picking up the WBO title in 2010 and the IBF title in 2014. Braekhus lost the titles by majority decision to Jessica McCaskill in August 2020 in Downtown Tulsa, USA and lost again in a rematch in Dallas in March 2021. McCaskill is the only fighter to have beaten Braekhus as a professional.

“The fight went down really well with the fans the first time and it would’ve been a shame for it to have never happened,” said Harper. “I’m excited and grateful to everyone for making it happen again and it’ll be even more special this time with the opportunity of unifying the division.

“When the fight fell through last time I sulked for the weekend but thanks to Matchroom and Eddie I was back in the gym the following Monday ready for another fight week. Looking back this experience has made me a stronger fighter with even more experience now gained.

“Cecilia is an icon of the sport and has already done everything I want to achieve. That’s why me and my team were so keen to pursue this fight. I see this fight as a passing of the baton and another stepping stone towards my ultimate goal of becoming undisputed at the weight.

“It feels good to be back in front of my home crowd. From the beginning of my career I’ve had a great following and come fight night I’ll have thousands in there showing their support. Last time out in Sheffield didn’t go the way I planned but I’m excited to back to winning ways on home soil.

“I won my first World Title at Sheffield Arena and then lost them there, now it’s time to become unified World Champion at that same arena. It’s a huge night of boxing with a massive domestic fight headlining, I’m very lucky to be chief support and I will make sure I put on a good show. Not to jinx it but every time I’ve fought on Leigh’s undercard we’ve both had the desired outcome.”

“I’m delighted to announce the chief support bout for what will a monster night of World Title action on Saturday October 7,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “Two-weight World Champion Terri Harper gets the biggest fight of her life as she makes the first defence of her WBA Super-Welterweight World Title against former pound-for-pound No.1 and undisputed Welterweight ruler Cecilia Braekus, with the vacant WBO crown now also on the line.

“We were all gutted for Terri after Cecilia was forced to withdraw from their original fight on the historic Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron card in Dublin earlier this year due to illness, but now ‘Belter’ will be backed by thousands of her own supporters as she goes for the biggest win of her career. Roll on October 7th live worldwide on DAZN!”

Matchroom Fight Pass members will be able to purchase tickets from 10am on Thursday August 3. Priority ticket info will be emailed directly to eligible members ahead of the on-sale time

[Ruthless-RKO]

Robbery?