Tag: Terri Harper

Katie Taylor outpoints tough, but overmatched Miriam Gutierrez

Katie Taylor outpointed tough, but overmatched Miriam Gutierrez on Saturday in London.

When durability is your greatest quality, it’s difficult to win fights. Especially when you’re facing Katie Taylor.

The undisputed lightweight champion outclassed a game, but overmatched Miriam Gutierrez on Saturday night at SSE Arena in London, delivering a beating en route to a near-shutout victory to retain her titles.

The former Olympic champion from Ireland was coming off a rough fight in her rematch with Delfine Persoon on Aug. 22, which Taylor won by a unanimous decision. Some wondered whether the relatively quick turnaround – less than three months – would have an adverse effect on Taylor.

It didn’t.

Taylor (17-0, 6 KOs) seemed perfectly fresh, perfectly fit, and was better than Gutierrez in every way, which made the mission of the 37-year-old from Spain — a late comer to boxing — all but impossible. The only thing she could do was survive.

Miriam Gutierrez (left) never stopped trying but didn’t have the tools to compete with Katie Tayor. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

The champion seemed to be on the verge of a knockout in the opening moments, when she stunned the challenger and then followed with a flurry of hard punches with Gutierrez’s back against the ropes. Gutierrez survived.

A left hook jolted Gutierrez (13-1, 5 KOs) in Round 3. That was followed by another barrage of stiff, accurate shots. She survived.

Taylor put her opponent down with a right-left combination a split second before the bell to end Round 4. She survived.

And, from Rounds 5 to 10, Taylor unloaded more punishing volleys at various moments in attempt to score an elusive knockout, some of which seemed to have referee John Latham thinking about stopping the fight. It just didn’t happen. Gutierrez survived.

That was the loser’s only consolation. The scores were 100-89, 100-90 and a generous 99-91, which reflected Taylor’s utter dominance in the mismatch. Boxing Junkie had it 100-89, a shutout.

“I’m very, very satisfied,” Taylor said. “… She was very, very tough. I was trying my best to get her out of there but she kept firing back. She’s very durable. She obviously was a lot bigger and stronger than I am.

“… I would’ve liked a stoppage today, but overall I thought it was a great performance.”

Taylor, 34, has no plans to slow down.

“I feel like we’re just getting better and better,” she said. “… People keep mentioning legacy. It’s all about legacy. I want to make history in this sport and inspire the next generation of fighters.”

What’s next for her? Promoter Eddie Hearn, standing at her side after the fight, said options abound.

“I like the winner of [the Cecilia] Braekhus-[Jessica] McCaskill [rematch],” he said. “We’ve got Chantelle Cameron soon at 140. That’s a big fight. We have Natasha Jonas. Terri Harper can come up from 130. Mikaela Mayer. There are so many challenges.

“And [Taylor] won’t duck any of them. I couldn’t suggest a fight she wouldn’t take.”

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Katie Taylor outpoints tough, but overmatched Miriam Gutierrez

Katie Taylor outpointed tough, but overmatched Miriam Gutierrez on Saturday in London.

When durability is your greatest quality, it’s difficult to win fights. Especially when you’re facing Katie Taylor.

The undisputed lightweight champion outclassed a game, but overmatched Miriam Gutierrez on Saturday night at SSE Arena in London, delivering a beating en route to a near-shutout victory to retain her titles.

The former Olympic champion from Ireland was coming off a rough fight in her rematch with Delfine Persoon on Aug. 22, which Taylor won by a unanimous decision. Some wondered whether the relatively quick turnaround – less than three months – would have an adverse effect on Taylor.

It didn’t.

Taylor (17-0, 6 KOs) seemed perfectly fresh, perfectly fit, and was better than Gutierrez in every way, which made the mission of the 37-year-old from Spain — a late comer to boxing — all but impossible. The only thing she could do was survive.

Miriam Gutierrez (left) never stopped trying but didn’t have the tools to compete with Katie Tayor. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

The champion seemed to be on the verge of a knockout in the opening moments, when she stunned the challenger and then followed with a flurry of hard punches with Gutierrez’s back against the ropes. Gutierrez survived.

A left hook jolted Gutierrez (13-1, 5 KOs) in Round 3. That was followed by another barrage of stiff, accurate shots. She survived.

Taylor put her opponent down with a right-left combination a split second before the bell to end Round 4. She survived.

And, from Rounds 5 to 10, Taylor unloaded more punishing volleys at various moments in attempt to score an elusive knockout, some of which seemed to have referee John Latham thinking about stopping the fight. It just didn’t happen. Gutierrez survived.

That was the loser’s only consolation. The scores were 100-89, 100-90 and a generous 99-91, which reflected Taylor’s utter dominance in the mismatch. Boxing Junkie had it 100-89, a shutout.

“I’m very, very satisfied,” Taylor said. “… She was very, very tough. I was trying my best to get her out of there but she kept firing back. She’s very durable. She obviously was a lot bigger and stronger than I am.

“… I would’ve liked a stoppage today, but overall I thought it was a great performance.”

Taylor, 34, has no plans to slow down.

“I feel like we’re just getting better and better,” she said. “… People keep mentioning legacy. It’s all about legacy. I want to make history in this sport and inspire the next generation of fighters.”

What’s next for her? Promoter Eddie Hearn, standing at her side after the fight, said options abound.

“I like the winner of [the Cecilia] Braekhus-[Jessica] McCaskill [rematch],” he said. “We’ve got Chantelle Cameron soon at 140. That’s a big fight. We have Natasha Jonas. Terri Harper can come up from 130. Mikaela Mayer. There are so many challenges.

“And [Taylor] won’t duck any of them. I couldn’t suggest a fight she wouldn’t take.”

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Terri Harper dominates, stops Katharina Thanderz

Terri Harper, making the fourth defense of her junior lightweight title, stopped Katharina Thanderz at 1:12 of Round 9 Saturday in London.

Terri Harper had little trouble with Katharina Thanderz.

Harper, making the fourth defense of her WBC junior lightweight title, thoroughly outboxed Thanderz before stopping her at 1:12 of Round 9 on the Katie Taylor-Miriam Gutierrez card Saturday in London.

Harper (11-0-1, 5 KOs) fought behind her sharp jab and used intelligent lateral movement to confound Thanderz (13-1, 2 KOs), who couldn’t figure out to land punches consistently.

The Denaby fighter was unable to hurt Thanderz through eight-plus rounds but followed her jab to land more than enough power shots to take a big lead on the cards.

In the ninth, a clash of heads stopped the fight for a few moments. Harper then hurt Thanderz with a left hook to the body and followed with a series of hard, unanswered punches, prompting referee Victor Loughlin to stop the fight.

Harper was coming off a hard-fought split draw against Natasha Jonas in August.

“I just stuck to the jab, kept moving and didn’t get dragged into that fight,” said Harper, referring toe-to-toe confrontations.

The goal of Harper and her promoter, Eddie Hearn, is for her to unify the 130-pound titles. The other major titleholders are Hyun Mi Choi, Maiva Hamadouche and Mikael Mayer.

“The key for me in women’s boxing is that the champions are willing to fight champions,” Hearn said. “There’s no reason we can’t have one champion in each division.

“That’s what fans have always wanted in boxing.”

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Terri Harper dominates, stops Katharina Thanderz

Terri Harper, making the fourth defense of her junior lightweight title, stopped Katharina Thanderz at 1:12 of Round 9 Saturday in London.

Terri Harper had little trouble with Katharina Thanderz.

Harper, making the fourth defense of her WBC junior lightweight title, thoroughly outboxed Thanderz before stopping her at 1:12 of Round 9 on the Katie Taylor-Miriam Gutierrez card Saturday in London.

Harper (11-0-1, 5 KOs) fought behind her sharp jab and used intelligent lateral movement to confound Thanderz (13-1, 2 KOs), who couldn’t figure out to land punches consistently.

The Denaby fighter was unable to hurt Thanderz through eight-plus rounds but followed her jab to land more than enough power shots to take a big lead on the cards.

In the ninth, a clash of heads stopped the fight for a few moments. Harper then hurt Thanderz with a left hook to the body and followed with a series of hard, unanswered punches, prompting referee Victor Loughlin to stop the fight.

Harper was coming off a hard-fought split draw against Natasha Jonas in August.

“I just stuck to the jab, kept moving and didn’t get dragged into that fight,” said Harper, referring toe-to-toe confrontations.

The goal of Harper and her promoter, Eddie Hearn, is for her to unify the 130-pound titles. The other major titleholders are Hyun Mi Choi, Maiva Hamadouche and Mikael Mayer.

“The key for me in women’s boxing is that the champions are willing to fight champions,” Hearn said. “There’s no reason we can’t have one champion in each division.

“That’s what fans have always wanted in boxing.”

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Katie Taylor, Miriam Gutierrez make weight on card featuring women’s title fights

All the featured fighters on Saturday’s card in London featuring women’s title fights made weight.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

The historic women’s triple-header of world title fights is on for Saturday at the SSE Arena in London, as all four fighters in the card’s top two bouts made weight while Rachel Ball will be eligible for an interim title against her late-replacement opponent.

Katie Taylor (16-0, 6 KOs) defends her lightweight titles against mandatory challenger Miriam Gutierrez (13-0 5 KOs). Taylor weighed 134½ pounds, Gutierrez 134¼. The fight is scheduled to be contested over 10 two-minute rounds.

In chief support, Terri Harper (10-0-1, 5 KOs) defends her junior lightweight titles against Spanish-Norwegian challenger Katharina Thanderz in another battle between undefeated competitors, also over 10 two-minute rounds. Harper weighed 129¼, Thanderz 129¾.

Harper hopes to notch her first win as a titleholder after being held to an draw by London 2012 Olympian Natasha Jonas last time out.

And while Rachel Ball (6-0, 1 KO) will round out the triple-header with her own title challenge, earned by way of her surprising Matchroom Fight Camp victory over highly-rated prospect Shannon Courtenay, the circumstances have changed.

Her initial opponent for the vacant WBA bantamweight title, Australia’s Ebanie Bridges, sustained an arm injury just days ago. Ball will now face Argentina’s Jorgelina Guanini (9-1-2, 1 KO) for the “interim” WBC junior featherweight belt. The full version is held by Guanini’s compatriot Yamileth Mercado.

Ball weighed 121¾, ¼ under the limit. Guanini weighed 125¼. The sides agreed that Guanini could exceed the limit because she stepped in at the last minute but only Ball will be eligible to win the title.

Opening the show will be light-heavyweights Thomas Whittaker-Hart (4-0, 2 KOs) and Jermaine Springer (7-1, 1 KO). Their eight-rounder is on as planned after Springer weighed in at 173lb 4 oz while Whittaker-Hart had to strip down to get a reading of 174lb 9oz after his first attempt came in two ounces over the 175lb limit.

Kash Farooq (13-1, 6 KOs) hopes to finally be back in action after some of the worst luck of any boxer hindered by injuries and/or the COVID-19 pandemic over the last 12 months. He will face a late replacement in Angel Aviles (20-5-1, 6 KOs) in a bantamweight 10-rounder.

Farooq weighed 117lb on the button, while Mexico’s Aviles, who also had the blessing of his opponent’s team to come in over the limit as a late replacement, was two pounds above the traditional 118lb bantamweight ceiling at 120lb.

And in what could be a show-stealer between two super-middleweight prospects who clashed verbally at the final press conference, it’s unbeaten John Docherty against Jack Cullen.

Scotland’s Docherty (8-0, 6 KOs) weighed 166lb 9oz while “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Cullen (18-2, 9 KOs) hit the scales slightly heavier at 167lb 7oz, both inside the 168lb divisional limit.

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Katie Taylor, Miriam Gutierrez make weight on card featuring women’s title fights

All the featured fighters on Saturday’s card in London featuring women’s title fights made weight.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

The historic women’s triple-header of world title fights is on for Saturday at the SSE Arena in London, as all four fighters in the card’s top two bouts made weight while Rachel Ball will be eligible for an interim title against her late-replacement opponent.

Katie Taylor (16-0, 6 KOs) defends her lightweight titles against mandatory challenger Miriam Gutierrez (13-0 5 KOs). Taylor weighed 134½ pounds, Gutierrez 134¼. The fight is scheduled to be contested over 10 two-minute rounds.

In chief support, Terri Harper (10-0-1, 5 KOs) defends her junior lightweight titles against Spanish-Norwegian challenger Katharina Thanderz in another battle between undefeated competitors, also over 10 two-minute rounds. Harper weighed 129¼, Thanderz 129¾.

Harper hopes to notch her first win as a titleholder after being held to an draw by London 2012 Olympian Natasha Jonas last time out.

And while Rachel Ball (6-0, 1 KO) will round out the triple-header with her own title challenge, earned by way of her surprising Matchroom Fight Camp victory over highly-rated prospect Shannon Courtenay, the circumstances have changed.

Her initial opponent for the vacant WBA bantamweight title, Australia’s Ebanie Bridges, sustained an arm injury just days ago. Ball will now face Argentina’s Jorgelina Guanini (9-1-2, 1 KO) for the “interim” WBC junior featherweight belt. The full version is held by Guanini’s compatriot Yamileth Mercado.

Ball weighed 121¾, ¼ under the limit. Guanini weighed 125¼. The sides agreed that Guanini could exceed the limit because she stepped in at the last minute but only Ball will be eligible to win the title.

Opening the show will be light-heavyweights Thomas Whittaker-Hart (4-0, 2 KOs) and Jermaine Springer (7-1, 1 KO). Their eight-rounder is on as planned after Springer weighed in at 173lb 4 oz while Whittaker-Hart had to strip down to get a reading of 174lb 9oz after his first attempt came in two ounces over the 175lb limit.

Kash Farooq (13-1, 6 KOs) hopes to finally be back in action after some of the worst luck of any boxer hindered by injuries and/or the COVID-19 pandemic over the last 12 months. He will face a late replacement in Angel Aviles (20-5-1, 6 KOs) in a bantamweight 10-rounder.

Farooq weighed 117lb on the button, while Mexico’s Aviles, who also had the blessing of his opponent’s team to come in over the limit as a late replacement, was two pounds above the traditional 118lb bantamweight ceiling at 120lb.

And in what could be a show-stealer between two super-middleweight prospects who clashed verbally at the final press conference, it’s unbeaten John Docherty against Jack Cullen.

Scotland’s Docherty (8-0, 6 KOs) weighed 166lb 9oz while “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Cullen (18-2, 9 KOs) hit the scales slightly heavier at 167lb 7oz, both inside the 168lb divisional limit.

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Mikaela Mayer wants to unify 130-pound title, targets Terri Harper

Mikaela Mayer wants to unify 130-pound title and targeting fellow beltholder Terri Harper.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Mikaela Mayer’s impressive decision victory over previously unbeaten Ewa Brodnicka’s not only earned her a junior lightweight title but will ensure her a seat at the division’s head table when unification fights are discussed in 2021.

Mayer (14-0, 5 KOs) nearly scored a shutout to take the belt from Brodnicka (19-1, 2 KOs) on the Naoya Inoue vs. Jason Moloney card Saturday in Las Vegas.

And the California fighter has wasted no time in declaring her intent to unify at 130 pounds.

“I definitely want to unify this division,” Mayer told BoxingScene.com. “I don’t want to wait around for years. I want to unify right away.”

Mayer mentioned fellow titleholder Terri Harper, who had said before Saturday that Mayer needed a world title of her own before the Brit would consider fighting her. Now she has one.

“Terri Harper said I had to go get a belt,” Mayer said. “[Harper promoter] Eddie Hearn said I had to go get a belt. I have the WBO belt now. So let’s make that fight happen. I want Terri Harper next.”

Harper (10-0-1, 5 KOs), whose last fight was a hotly contested draw with Natasha Jonas in August, is scheduled to defend her title against Katarina Thanderz as part of a historic tripleheader of women’s title fights on Nov. 21.

That card, headlined by Katie Taylor’s lightweight title defense against mandatory challenger Miriam Gutierrez, will be staged in London.

Maiva Hamadouche and Hyun Mi Choi hold the WBA and IBF junior lightweight titles, respectively.

Mikaela Mayer wants to unify 130-pound title, targets Terri Harper

Mikaela Mayer wants to unify 130-pound title and targeting fellow beltholder Terri Harper.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Mikaela Mayer’s impressive decision victory over previously unbeaten Ewa Brodnicka’s not only earned her a junior lightweight title but will ensure her a seat at the division’s head table when unification fights are discussed in 2021.

Mayer (14-0, 5 KOs) nearly scored a shutout to take the belt from Brodnicka (19-1, 2 KOs) on the Naoya Inoue vs. Jason Moloney card Saturday in Las Vegas.

And the California fighter has wasted no time in declaring her intent to unify at 130 pounds.

“I definitely want to unify this division,” Mayer told BoxingScene.com. “I don’t want to wait around for years. I want to unify right away.”

Mayer mentioned fellow titleholder Terri Harper, who had said before Saturday that Mayer needed a world title of her own before the Brit would consider fighting her. Now she has one.

“Terri Harper said I had to go get a belt,” Mayer said. “[Harper promoter] Eddie Hearn said I had to go get a belt. I have the WBO belt now. So let’s make that fight happen. I want Terri Harper next.”

Harper (10-0-1, 5 KOs), whose last fight was a hotly contested draw with Natasha Jonas in August, is scheduled to defend her title against Katarina Thanderz as part of a historic tripleheader of women’s title fights on Nov. 21.

That card, headlined by Katie Taylor’s lightweight title defense against mandatory challenger Miriam Gutierrez, will be staged in London.

Maiva Hamadouche and Hyun Mi Choi hold the WBA and IBF junior lightweight titles, respectively.

Terri Harper, Natasha Jonas battle to split draw at Fight Camp

Junior lightweight titleholder Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas fought to an entertaining 10-round draw Friday in Essex, England.

Nothing was settled in the main event of the second Fight Camp card Friday night in Essex, England.

Junior lightweight titleholder Terri Harper, a rising star, and Natasha Jonas fought to an entertaining 10-round draw without spectators in the garden of the Matchroom Boxing offices.

One judge had it 96-94 for Harper, the second 96-95 for Jones and the third 95-95. Thus, Harper retained her belt.

Jonas (9-1-1, 7 KOs) was a significant underdog but didn’t fight like it, giving as much as she took in a back-and-forth battle that could’ve gone either way.

And the 2012 Olympian did it even though she suffered a cut above her right eye in the second round and is 13 years Harper’s senior. Jonas is 36, Harper 23.

Harper had expected to break down Jonas but her countrywoman proved to be resilient.

“I caught her with some good shots, she caught me with some,” Harper said. “That’s boxing. I’m disappointed, but I’ve got to think, I’m 23 years old, I had 16 amateur fights. This was a big night.

“I just want to thank Tasha for an excellent fight. This was a big learning fight for me, and I’ll be back in the gym soon.”

Jonas lost in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Londaon Games to eventual gold medalist Katie Taylor.

In other fights on the card, Anthony Fowler (13-1, 10 KOs) stopped Adam Harper (9-2, 0 KOs) in seven rounds in a scheduled 10-round middleweight fight; Hopey Price (3-0, 1 KOs) easily outpointed Jonny Phillips (5-5, 2 KOs) in a six-round junior lightweight bout; and Chris Billam-Smith (11-1, 10 KOs) knocked out Nathan Thorley (14-1, 6 KOs) in the second round to retain the Commonweather cruiserweight title.

Terri Harper, Natasha Jonas leave the bickering to their trainers

Junior lightweight titleholder Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas are making women’s boxing history on Friday in Essex, England.

History will be made at the second Matchroom Boxing Fight Camp card on Friday when two British women contest a world title fight for the first time, but there is much more to Terri Harper’s junior lightweight defense against Natasha Jonas.

At the age of 36, this could be London 2012 Olympian Jonas’ (9-1, 7 KOs) last chance at becoming a world champion in the professional ranks when she faces the 23-year-old Harper (10-0, 5 KOs) in the main event at Matchroom HQ in Brentwood, England.

Meanwhile, a first successful title defense since winning her belt against Eva Wahlstrom in February will mean Harper could eventually become a more recoginizable name in boxing than that of Jonas, who posed with a young Harper at a post-Olympics photo opportunity years ago.

In the run-up to this historic showdown, most of the talking has been done by the fighters’ respective trainers, Stefy Bull and Joe Gallagher.

So much so, in fact, that promoter Eddie Hearn insisted the two partake in their own head-to-head press conference just before their fighters did the same on Wednesday.

Once they were done bickering, bantering and talking over one another, it was time for the stars of the show to say their piece in a more respectful and less confrontational manner.

Nonetheless, both Harper and Jonas are extremely confident that they’ll get the chance to knock the other out — and that they’ll take that opportunity the first time it comes.

“A lot of people have said the pressure’s on me, but I’m just enjoying the journey,” said Harper. “I popped up from out of nowhere and I’m just enjoying the occasion.  I’ve been told a few times about Joe’s mind games so I just switch off and do what I have to do.

“We’re prepared for the best Tasha, and she feels like she’s back to her amateur best. I’m gonna go for the stoppage. I believe if I land a good clean shot, it’s lights out.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acBI5obxmGk]

This will be Jonas’ first fight this calendar year, something she plans to use to her advantage.

“Mentally, the break away from boxing allowed me to enjoy life,” she said.  “Power is something I’ve always known I had. I know I carry power, but it was changing the shots up that was the issue.

“Everything we believe Terri can bring, I believe we have covered. I believe I’ve turned the clock back to before the Olympics. Mentally, physically and emotionally I’m the best athlete I’ve ever been and on Friday I’m going to show that.

“If I’m not giving it my all, I shouldn’t be here. If I land cleanly, I believe she’ll go.”

Matchroom Boxing’s Fight Camp 2, headlined by Harper vs Jonas, airs live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. on Aug. 7.

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