Terri Harper is happily leaving the trash-talking to Caroline Dubois as she plans to “humble” her younger rival when the two meet in the ring on Sunday.
Harper awaits as the biggest fight of Dubois’ young career so far as the pair put their WBO and WBC lightweight world titles on the line in a unification clash, live on Sky Sports.
A heated build-up has seen Dubois label Harper “irrelevant” and “pathetic”, to which the latter has insisted 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 record of 16-2-2 having won the WBO lightweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Rhiannon Dixon last May.
She has shared the ring with the likes of Alycia Baumgardner, Sandy Ryan, Natasha Jonas and Cecilia Braekhus, though her inability to get over the line against marquee names has featured among Dubois’ flurry of insults.
Nonetheless, Harper maintains the importance of her experience.
“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.
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Here is a teaser from the Dubois vs Harper Gloves Are Off episode
Much of the build-up has centred around the prospect of another step towards dominance for Dubois, but Harper has greater ambitions of her own.
“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 continued. “I’ve got the belts over multiple weight divisions but for me now it’s about collecting the belts at lightweight.”
Harper explained how she had dreamed as a child of headlining on Sky Sports. That becomes a reality this Sunday as she seeks what would be 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,” said Harper.
“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.
