Sandy Ryan and Terri Harper Battle in England and More News

 

By David A. Avila

Two of Great Britain’s most renowned champions battle each other as Sandy Ryan and Terri Harper meet this weekend in England.

No longer do champions need a couple dozen fights on their resume to engage in world championship aspirations. That’s a thing of the past.

With a mere eight total fights Ryan has displayed an uncanny grit and determination to propel herself to the world title and take on all comers.

Likewise, Harper used the same expressway route to capture world titles before she was shockingly stopped by a single punch as a lightweight champion.

On Saturday, March 23, Ryan (6-1-1, 2 KOs) and Harper (14-1-2, 6 Kos) meet to decide the WBO welterweight title at Sheffield, England. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

“They asked if I wanted to take the fight with Terri and I just said yes straight away. The British fans are loving it; two British females, two world champions – so it’s quite a big fight in the UK,” said Ryan.

Although Harper has two super welterweight titles, she will drop down to compete against Ryan who holds the WBO welterweight belt. Both are tall, aggressive and have a popular following.

“We tried to get it at her weight, but she didn’t want it at her weight so I’m defending my title,” said Ryan. “That’s just the facts. Of course I would have liked to have fought for her belt. I wouldn’t mind being a two-weight world champion. They wanted to fight for my belt so they’ve still got their belt at 154lbs after the fight.”

Harper has her reasons.

“I’ve got a chance to become a three-weight World Champion and what better place to do that than in front of my home crowd?” Harper countered.

For this fight Ryan spent weeks in Las Vegas preparing against the varied boxing styles of American and Latin American styles. Her last fight ended in a split draw against Jessica McCaskill the other welterweight world titlist.

Against the other welterweight champion Ryan showed an ability to adapt and use her own strongpoints against McCaskill’s aggression. Though it ended in a draw the improvements in her fighting skills were apparent.

Harper also endured a draw in her last fight against former champion Cecilia Braekhus. Though many expected a tough match it was still a setback for the two-division world titlist.

“This is the fight that I’ve wanted for years,” said Harper.

Since losing by knockout to Alycia Baumgardner in 2021, Harper, the fighter from Yorkshire has not scored a knockout win in more than three years.

Will the ever-improving Ryan be too much for Harper?

Or will Harper’s tad more experience prove the difference?

 

 

Other News

Minimumweight Clash Next Week

The battle for the undisputed minimumweight world championship is a week away.

Seniesa Estrada (25-0, 9 Kos) and Yokasta Valle (30-2, 9 Kos) will decide the first ever undisputed champion in that division on Friday March 29, at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank card.

They’ve been eyeing each other for five years.

Tickets are available.

 

More Fight News

Albania

On Friday March 22, super featherweights Elif Nur Turhan (6-0) and Bukiwe Nonina (20-4-2) meet eight rounds at Tirana. Also, light flyweights Elif Delismen (2-0) and Ivanka Ivanova (6-25-3) meet six rounds.

 

Argentina

On Saturday March 23, featherweights Rocio Gordillo (2-1) and Alejandra Herrera (0-2-1) meet four rounds at Junin.

 

Australia

Krystina Jacobs (7-4) knocked out Maureen Chand (3-5) in the third round on Saturday March 16. The lightweight fight was held in Hobart.

Bantamweights Chloe Grech (1-0-1) and Connie Brown (2-0-1) fought to a majority draw after four rounds on Wednesday March 13. The match was held in Wollongong.

On Saturday March 23, super featherweights Jessica Adams (3-2-1) and Jaki Toth (0-2) meet six rounds at Condell Park. Also, bantamweights Amber Amelia (3-3) and Ali Jensen (0-7) meet six rounds.

On Saturday March 23, super featherweights Deanha Hobbs (11-2) and Tywarna Campbell (4-2-1) meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Caloundra.

On Saturday March 23, light heavyweights Che Kenneally (3-0) and Sequita Hemingway (2-4) meet eight rounds at Ipswich. Also, middleweights Desley Robinson (5-2) and Kaye Scott (1-0) meet eight rounds; and super flyweights Mai Soliman (4-1) and Sawanya Srisawat (5-1) meet four rounds.

 

Canada

Caroline Veyre (7-0) beat Augustina Belen (8-7) in eight rounds on Thursday March 14. The featherweight match was held in Montreal.

 

Chile

Daniela Asenjo (16-3-3) defeated Victoria Torres (13-2) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds on Friday March 15. The bantamweight title fight was held in Valdivia. Also, featherweight Karen Almendra (1-0) beat Genoveva Candia (0-1) by split decision after four rounds.

 

Colombia

Estefania Regino (1-0) defeated Dari Hernandez (0-1)  by decision after four rounds on Friday March 15. The super flyweight match was held in San Pedro de Uraba.

Sasthy Ramirez (2-3) knocked out Luz Duarte (0-6) in the third round on Wednesday March 13. The bantamweight fight was held in Carmen di Apicala.

On Thursday March 21, super flyweights Paola Rincon (6-3) and Luisa Meza (0-7-1) meet six rounds at Cali.

 

Costa Rica

Gipsy Diaz (2-0) defeated Meris Del Carmen (0-1) by knockout in the second round on Saturday March 16. The minimumweight fight took place at Puntarenas.

 

France

Chlothilde Del Ben (6-3) knocked out Nevena Markovic (0-9-1) in the first round on Saturday March 16. The bantamweight fight was held in Epernay. Also, Souad Masmoudi (4-1-1) beat Dragana Golic (0-16) in six.

On Saturday March 23, super lightweights Anissa Benyoub (6-3) and Bojana Libiszewska (7-61) meet six rounds at Castres.

 

Germany

Dilar Kisikyol (10-0) won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds versus Marisa Nunez (8-13-3) on Saturday March 16. The lightweight bout took place at Stralsund.

On Saturday March 23, featherweights Ana Lozano (24-12-1) and Sarah Liegmann (9-0) meet 10 rounds for a title at Frankfurt. Also, super bantamweights Oksana Romanova (10-35-1) and Melina Maibaum (6-0) meet eight rounds.

 

Ireland

Shauna O’Keefe (2-0) knocked out Angelika Oles (2-11) in the third round on Saturday March 16. The lightweight fight was held in Galway. Also, flyweight Kate Radomska (4-3) beat Klaudia Ferenczi (20-110-10) in six rounds.

 

Italy

On Friday March 22, featherweights Jessica Bellusci (5-1) and Alessia Vitanza (2-5) meet 10 rounds for the Italian title at Colleferro.

On Saturday March 23, light flyweights Martina Bernile (6-3-1) and Nina Radovanovic (17-4) meet 10 rounds for the IBO title at Monticello. Also, flyweights Chiara Gregoris (2-1) and Sara Lambordi (3-0) meet six rounds.

 

Japan

Minimumweights Mao Kamada (0-0-2) and Natsuki Yamada (1-1-3) fought to a split draw after four rounds on Monday March 18. The match was held in Tokyo.

Mont Blanc Miki (6-6-1) beat Natsuki Tarui (4-11-4) by decision after six rounds on Friday March 15. The atomweight fight took place in Tokyo. Also, minimumweight Yurie Kishi (3-1-1) beat Hanako Adams (3-4-2) in four; and atomweights Chiaki Matsumoto (0-0-1) and Yoko Shiraki (0-1-2) fought to a draw after four.

 

Mexico

Briza Garibay (1-0) beat Alejandra Perez (2-1) by decision after four rounds on Thursday March 14. The bantamweight fight was held at Aguasacalientes.

 

New Zealand

Michele Preston (13-10-1) knocked out Arisara Wisetwongsa (6-7) in the second round on Saturday March 16. The super flyweight fight was held in Auckland.

Heavyweights Tinta Smith (0-2-1) and Trish Vaka (1-7-1) fought to a split draw after eight rounds on Saturday March 16.

On Saturday March 23, bantamweights Anna Collie (1-0) and Christine Gillespie (0-0) meet eight rounds for a vacant New Zealand title at Porirua.

 

Panama

Zuliana Mendoza (4-2-1) defeated Janicy Dos Santos (1-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday March 16. The featherweight fight was held in Panama City.

 

Russia

On Friday March 22, lightweights Elizaveta Tokareva (0-0) and Happy Daudi (14-14-1) meet six rounds at Moscow. Also, middleweights Natalya Ledovskaya (0-1) and Anastasia Kruzhkova (0-1) meet four rounds.

 

South Korea

Minimumweights Ryu Kyung Suh (7-0-2) and Riyuna Yoshikawa (6-2-2) fought to a split draw after 10 rounds for a regional title on Saturday March 16. The match took place in Seoul. Also, flyweight Joo Young Kim (1-0) beat So Hee Hong (0-1) in four.

 

Spain

Almudena Alvarez (5-2) defeated Alba Sanchez (7-1) by decision after eight rounds on Saturday March 16. The super featherweight match was held in Mostoles.

On Saturday March 23, flyweights Griselda Torollari (3-2) and Maite Botella (0-1) meet six rounds at Picanya.

 

Thailand

Praethip Pawuttinun (7-0) knocked out Rungnapha Kaewkrachang (18-20-1) in the fourth round on Saturday March 16. The minimumweight fight was held in Lam Luk Ka. Also, light flyweights Nattarat Prempida (9-4-1) knocked out Nanthika Panyakhid (5-2) in five; and Netnapa Sunthorn (7-0) knocked out Surachada Namrak (3-7) in three.

 

United Kingdom

Zoe Hunte Smith (3-2) beat Bec Connolly (3-21) in six rounds on Saturday March 16. The lightweight bout took place at Bethnal Green.

On Saturday March 23, bantamweights Johanna Wonyou (9-0) and Kira Carter (0-4-1) meet six rounds at Newark.

On Saturday March 23, super featherweights Beccy Ferguson (5-10) and Amy Greatorex (1-5) meet 10 rounds at Stoke-on-Trent, England.

On Saturday March 23, welterweights Sandy Ryan (6-1-1) and Terri Harper (14-1-2) meet 10 rounds for the WBO world title at Sheffield, England.

 

USA

Jessica Radtke (1-0) beat Wildalys Riveera (0-1) by decision after four rounds on Saturday March 16. The super featherweight match took place in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Jermesha Poke (5-0) knocked out Trinity Stone (0-3) in two rounds on Friday March 15. The bantamweight fight was held in St. Charles, Missouri.

Nisa Rodriguez (1-0) defeated Jozette Cotton (0-4-1) by decision after four rounds on Friday March 15. The super middleweight fight took place in New York City.

On Saturday March 23, lightweights Hannah Terlep (5-0) and Chelsea Anderson (6-0) meet six rounds at Superior, Colorado. Also, light flyweights Mollie Backowski (0-1) and Amanda Lovato (0-2-1) meet four rounds.

On Saturday March 23, featherweights Melanie Costa (2-0) and Sarah Click (1-6-1) meet four rounds at Lincoln, Rhode Island.

On Saturday March 23, welterweights Hailey Pennington (0-0) and Lashwanda Ellis (0-2) meet four rounds at Barboursville, West Virginia.

 

Vietnam

Ngoc Linh Chi Ngo (2-0) won by split decision after six rounds versus Huijao Chen (1-3) on Saturday March 16. The light flyweight fight was held in Vung Tau.

 

(Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)