Ganesh Kendale
A week on from when a record-breaking 96,000 crowd witnessed Daniel Dubois’ triumph over Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium, there was fewer than 2,000 fans – and plenty of empty seats – at the community arena for another all-British world-title affair.
It perhaps highlights the progress still to be made in promoting female boxing, and how only a handful of names – such as Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields – appeal to the masses.
The women’s code aside, the investment in boxing by Saudi Arabia organisers has also impacted the magnitude of cards in the United Kingdom, with the biggest ticket-sellers heading to the Middle East.
But Dixon v Harper – originally set to take place as an undercard bout in August at Manchester’s 23,500-capacity Co-op Live Arena – has also been riddled by unfortunate luck with location and date changes after injuries to headline fighters.
“I thought it was a brilliant fight – I’m so glad we kept this show on. [Harper] makes history tonight,” promoter Eddie Hearn said.
He added that Argentina’s IBF champion Beatriz Ferreira could be next in a unification fight for Harper.
Dixon’s reign may have been short-lived, but for a fighter who competed a handful of times on the white-collar scene before turning professional, and just a few years ago was juggling boxing with her day job as a pharmacist, she can hold her head high.
