Terri Harper told Caroline Dubois she is “excited” to punch her fellow world champion in the face as the Britons made weight for Sunday’s unified lightweight world title fight in London.
Both fighters looked in tremendous shape as they each stepped on the scales one pound under the 9 st 9 lb (61kg) limit at Olympia, the same venue as fight night.
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After weighing in, they faced off in the centre of the stage, continuing the verbal sparring that has defined the build-up.
“I just told her I’m excited to punch her in the face,” Harper said.
The 29-year-old Doncaster fighter, who holds the WBO belt, has allowed WBC champion Dubois, 25, to do most of the talking.
But Harper has refused to be intimidated, shoving Dubois earlier in the week at a media day and exchanging elbow jostles during Thursday’s photo call.
“The game is over. It’s all about tomorrow [Sunday]. It’s not about the elbows, it’s about the fists,” Harper said.
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A three-weight champion, Harper has previously held titles at featherweight and light-middleweight but says she feels most comfortable at lightweight.
“I naturally get down to this weight. This morning I woke up on weight, I didn’t need to take anything off,” she said.
Harper’s record stands at 16 wins, two losses, and two draws, including fights against Natasha Jonas, Alycia Baumgardner, Cecilia Brækhus and Sandy Ryan.
Dubois has 12 wins and one draw but is yet to face a marquee opponent. A victory could set up unification bouts or high-profile fights against the likes of Baumgardner.
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“Look at my body and my physique. This year I’ve grown, I’ve got bigger, I’ve got stronger,” Dubois said. “A win is the most important, but I believe I win by knockout.”
World-titlists make weight on undercard
Ellie Scotney holds the WBC, IBF and WBO super-bantamweight bouts and Mayelli Flores is the WBA champion [PA Media]
The undercard for Sunday’s London show is stacked with four female world-title fights featuring British fighters, all of whom made weight successfully.
Londoner Ellie Scotney, 28, has the chance to become Britain’s youngest ever undisputed champion – male or female – in the four-belt era when she faces Mexico’s Mayelli Flores for the undisputed super-bantamweight title.
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Both fighters came in under the 8 st 9 lb limit, with Scotney towering over the 4 ft 11 in Flores by five inches at the face-off.
Flores vowed to bring “war to the ring,” citing Mexican legends Julio Cesar Chavez Sr and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, while Scotney responded: “I’m more than ready. All the belts, all the marbles.”
Northampton’s Chantelle Cameron weighed in for her WBO light-middleweight world-title challenge against unbeaten Czech fighter Michaela Kotaskova.
The fight will feature three-minute rounds, longer than the usual two in women’s boxing, and a win could set up a bout with three-division champion Mikaela Mayer, who was ringside.
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“I’ve been working hard in the gym, getting ready for the three-minute rounds. I’ve got the engine,” said the 34-year-old Cameron.
Norwich’s Emma Dolan, 27, aims to claim her first world title against IBF super-flyweight champion Irma Garcia.
Dolan, unbeaten in eight fights, will face the experienced 44-year-old Mexican, who has had 35 professional bouts. Dolan promised she will “go in there and take over”.
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