Caroline Dubois dethrones Terri Harper on historic boxing night
History was made in a boxing ring on Saturday night, but sadly South Yorkshire's Terri Harper was on the wrong side of it.
In the Most Valuable Promotions' first ever event in the UK, Terri not only lost to Caroline Dubois, but relinquished her WBO lightweight world championship belt.
It has been a difficult three weeks for Doncaster’s high-profile boxers.
Maxi Hughes had to retire at the end of the fifth round in his IBO Super Lightweight world title shot in Ireland.
Terri, from Denaby Main, held on for ten two-minute rounds against the WBC champion before going out on her shield, to surprisingly wide judges cards: 91-98, 92-97 and 91-98.
It didn't go how Harper had meticulously planned, over the last few months.
She was knocked down with a right jab to the forehead in the sixth round at London’s Olympia, and suffered a cut over her left eye after a clash of heads two rounds later.
'Sweet Caroline' - who hadn't been so sweet in the build-up when she was labelled a 'bully' by her opponent - had screamed unsportingly at Terri after decking her and raised her hand before the verdict was announced.
Harper, taller and marginally heavier at 134lbs 6oz, had fallen short but she is a three-weight champion...and has nothing to prove to anybody as she ponders her future.
Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of MVP said: "Kudos to Terry Harper. What a champion. It's been an honour to work with her...and we said to her, we want her to continue to be involved in MVP."
Dubois added: "She’s smart, you know, and she's experienced. She knows how to get through a fight. She knows how to box."
The 29-year-old former Hallam University student has come back from reverses before - she had a seemingly disastrous defeat to Sandy Ryan at welterweight at Sheffield Arena two years ago but won her next two matches.
Meanwhile, it isn't all bad news for Donny fighters.
Armthorpe's European super featherweight champion Josh Padley, 30, has signed a contract extension with Matchroom.
Padley, now 18-2-0, says: “Super happy to be pushing on with Matchroom...Fight news soon.”
The new deal comes just over two months after he stopped France’s Jaouad Belmehdi inside two rounds to claim the vacant European title in Newcastle.
That emphatic victory completed Padley’s initial three-fight agreement with Matchroom - a deal he earned after stepping in at just four days’ notice to face pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson in Saudi Arabia last year.
Despite losing that world title fight, Padley’s courage in lasting nine rounds transformed his career, prompting Eddie Hearn’s team to offer him a contract within days.
Since then, the former electrician has gone from part-time boxer working in roof spaces in Shiregreen, Sheffield, to full-time professional, reeling off wins that culminated in European honours.