Lightweight titleholder Terri Harper says she is no longer signed with a promoter and is looking forward to what the open market has in store for her.
Harper signed with Matchroom Boxing in September 2019 and was still listed on the company’s website as this article went to press. But Harper’s defense of her WBO belt on May 23 – in her hometown of Doncaster, England, was promoted by GBM Sports, a company led by Izzy Asif.
Harper topped Natalie Zimmermann by unanimous decision and then called out WBC titleholder Caroline Dubois.
“I believe I’m a free agent,” Harper said in an interview with Boxing King Media. “I’ll have a little break away and speak with my team. We have an offer in for Dubois, but nothing’s confirmed. I gave so much to this sport over the years, and I want to see what the best offers are for me and what’s going to financially do the best for my career as well.”
Harper, 16-2-2 (6 KOs), is a 28-year-old who won the WBO lightweight title in September with a unanimous decision over Rhiannon Dixon. Harper has also held world titles in two other weight classes.
Harper won the WBC junior lightweight belt in February 2020 with a wide decision over Eva Wahlstrom, defended it with a draw against Natasha Jonas, fought through a broken hand for several rounds before stopping the 13-0 Katharina Thanderz and then was dispatched herself in four rounds by Alycia Baumgardner in November 2021.
By September 2022, Harper was up at junior middleweight, where she outpointed Hannah Rankin for the WBA belt. Harper then won a decision over Ivana Habazin and fought to a draw with Cecilia Braekhus in a 2023 bout that also had the vacant WBO title on the line. Harper then started her downward move on the scales, losing to then-welterweight titleholder Sandy Ryan in March 2024 before subsequently moving down to 135lbs.
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.