Terri Harper says Caroline Dubois’ ego and questionable conditioning will be her undoing when the two meet this Sunday at London’s Olympia to contest the unified WBO and WBC lightweight world titles, live on Sky Sports. A tense build-up has raised the stakes, and Harper believes the pressure from Dubois’ public declarations will work against her.
Harper expects Dubois to try to overwhelm her early with a fast start — a predictable game plan, she says — but predicts that Dubois lacks the engine to sustain that pace. Harper points to Dubois’ tendency to fade as fights progress, describing a low late workrate and an overreliance on looking good in the moment rather than grinding through rounds. If Dubois doesn’t stop Harper in the opening half, Harper thinks the momentum will swing in her favor.
A three-weight world champion already, Harper calls this the biggest fight of her career and the one she has been waiting for. With strong promotional backing and a prime window of form, she says the matchup comes at perfect timing. Harper acknowledges that Dubois may view the contest as a career-defining moment for herself, but Harper insists she is entering the prime of her career and is ready to take those opportunities.
Unifying the lightweight belts — and possibly pushing toward undisputed status — is a stated ambition for Harper as well. She says the goal is simple: big fight after big fight, and the chance to claim the remaining titles in the division.
Fans can watch Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper live on Sky Sports on Sunday, April 5.