South Yorkshire's Terri Harper refuses to be written off
Terri Harper is gearing up for a crucial showdown with Miranda Reyes at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham this weekend
Terri Harper admits her career is at a crossroads.
South Yorkshire's former three-weight world champion knows that a defeat on Saturday could leave her facing serious questions about what comes next.
Harper, 29, meets Miranda Reyes at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, with the pair stepping up to 140lbs on MVP's UK vs USA card. Harper is coming off April’s points defeat by Caroline Dubois.
“It’s a pressure fight for me. It’s a must-win fight,” Harper said. “I can’t be losing two fights on the bounce because where does my career go from there?”
That is the brutal reality facing Harper as she attempts to start a new campaign at super lightweight.
MVP has put her straight in with a ranked contender as she targets a fourth weight division world title.
Reyes has no intention of allowing that plan to get off the ground.
The Houston fighter has been respectful about Harper’s achievements, but believes Saturday will mark the beginning of the end for her British opponent.
“It’s an honour to step in the ring with Terri Harper,” Reyes said. “Respectfully, she has accomplished a lot in the sport, but she’s on her way out. I’m going to lead her to that way.”
Harper has heard that type of statement many times before and remains unimpressed by the suggestion that her career is nearing its finish.
“I think if I had a pound for every time someone said they’re going to retire me, I could have probably retired off that money by now,” she said. “You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
Reyes expects Harper to push her hard, though, and says her team has prepared for every possibility. They want the knockout, but are ready for a longer fight if Harper proves too durable.
“We all want the knockout, but if it has to go to deep waters, we’ll take it there,” Reyes said.
Harper insists she has not underestimated Reyes despite the American claiming she has been overlooked. She knows a statement performance is needed as much as a victory.
“I’ve taken this fight very seriously like I would any other fight,” Harper said. “I know that I need to be the best version of me on Saturday night to get a good, dominant performance.”
The move to 140lbs gives Denaby's Harper an opportunity to reset after the Dubois loss, with the lessons from that night now part of her preparation.
“Coming off the last fight, I learned from that fight, and I’ll take it into the next fight,” she said.
Harper’s crossroads moment comes on a stacked MVP card, with her fight sitting behind the headline attraction of Mikaela Mayer against Chantelle Cameron for three world titles. Dubois faces Amelia Moore, while Tysie Gallagher also returns against Ashleigh Johnson.
The spotlight may fall elsewhere on the bill, but Harper has a significant opportunity of her own. Victory would give the Doncaster fighter fresh momentum at 140lbs and keep her ambitions of becoming a world champion in a fourth division alive.