Dubois outpoints bloodied Harper to unify titles

Caroline Dubois claims unified lightweight title in London showdown

Caroline Dubois secured the unified lightweight world championship by outpointing Terri Harper at London’s Olympia. The British rivals clashed in a tightly contested bout, with Dubois delivering a decisive blow in the sixth round to drop Harper. A cut on Harper’s left eye, caused by a head clash in the eighth, added to her challenges throughout the fight.

Harper, a three-weight world champion, displayed resilience, continuing to trade punches despite her injury. The three judges awarded the victory to Dubois with scores of 98-91, 97-92, and 98-91, marking her second title unification. The win extended Dubois’s unbeaten record to 13 wins and one draw, while Harper’s record now stands at 16 wins, three losses, and two draws.

“I tried to up the tempo, but Terri is very tricky; she navigated herself very well and it was up to me to push the pace,” Dubois said. “I feel like I dropped off towards the end, but I’m getting better every time. She is a champion and she doesn’t like to lose but neither do I. The better woman won tonight and I hope she can give me my respect.”

The event marked the debut of Most Valuable Promotions in the United Kingdom, with Dubois, the London-based fighter, receiving a warm welcome as she entered to Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman.” Harper, supported by her Yorkshire fans, also drew cheers as she made her way to the ring.

Olympia, a historic venue, hosted its first world championship boxing event in decades. The arena previously showcased bouts featuring Chris Eubank Jr and Prince Naseem Hamed. The fight, which had been anticipated for its high stakes, saw Dubois and Harper’s rivalry escalate in the lead-up, with Dubois challenging Harper’s credentials and the pair exchanging heated words in a pre-fight media session.

By the halfway mark, the contest remained subdued, with Dubois gradually gaining control through body work. However, the fight took a dramatic turn in the sixth round when Dubois’s sharp double jab and left hook sent Harper to the canvas. The referee later cautioned Harper for hesitating to return to her corner. As the rounds progressed, blood from the cut began to trickle, intensifying the drama.

In the ninth round, Dubois’s combination appeared to threaten a stoppage, but Harper staged a late rally, landing impactful shots on Dubois’s head in the 10th and final round. Claressa Shields, a pound-for-pound star, watched the action from ringside. The bout concluded with Dubois retaining her titles and Harper departing with a split decision.

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