Terri Harper is leaving the trash-talking to Caroline Dubois as she aims to “humble” the younger rival when they meet on Sunday.
The pair will put the WBO and WBC lightweight world titles on the line in a unification clash live on Sky Sports. A heated build-up has seen Dubois call Harper “irrelevant” and “pathetic”, prompting Harper to say she does not like “bullies”.
“I think it’s great, she’s done my job for me, she’s selling the fight,” Harper told Sky Sports. “It would have been a hard sell and a bit boring if we’re both like my personality and I’m a bit more quiet and reserved and I’m not one of them to be in your face and screaming and shouting or going back with pointless arguments. I like to just crack on and do my job which is in the ring on the night. So obviously she’s young and I feel like she hasn’t been truly tested yet and I remember when I was undefeated and you kind of get lost in it and carried away a little bit. So I believe next Sunday I do humble her a little bit.”
Harper, 29, is four years older than Dubois and arrives with a 16-2-2 record, having won the WBO lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Rhiannon Dixon last May. She has shared the ring with names including Alycia Baumgardner, Sandy Ryan, Natasha Jonas and Cecilia Brækhus – experience Dubois has targeted in her insults – but Harper stresses that experience matters.
“I feel like I’ve been overlooked throughout most of my boxing career and I know for a fact over the last two years working with (coach) Paul (Durose) it’s took me to the next level and I know when I get in there next Sunday Caroline’s going to be in the ring with something that she’s never experienced before,” she said.
Much of the build-up has focused on Dubois taking another step toward dominance, but Harper has bigger ambitions. “It’s everything I think for every fighter to be a world champion is the goal, for me now the goal is to become undisputed in lightweight,” she said. “I’ve got the belts over multiple weight divisions but for me now it’s about collecting the belts at lightweight.”
Harper also recalled childhood dreams of headlining on Sky Sports, which come true this Sunday as she pursues the biggest win of her career. “Oh it’s the cherry on top, that’s when I would step back and think right yeah I’ve achieved everything I’ve probably ever wanted to achieve and I’ve done more than I could ever have dreamed of,” she said. “Obviously the goal is to become undisputed but for me overcoming just everything that I’ve had to overcome over the years and the outside noise and stuff, getting the win on Sunday just yeah cherry on top.”
Watch Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper live on Sky Sports on Sunday April 5.