Terri Harper advised Caroline Dubois she is “excited” to punch her fellow world champion within the face because the Britons made weight for Sunday’s unified light-weight world title combat in London.
Both fighters appeared in super form as they every stepped on the scales one pound below the 9 st 9 lb (61kg) restrict at Olympia, the identical venue as combat night time.
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After weighing in, they confronted off within the centre of the stage, persevering with the verbal sparring that has outlined the construct-up.
“I just told her I’m excited to punch her in the face,” Harper mentioned.
The 29-12 months-outdated Doncaster fighter, who holds the WBO belt, has allowed WBC champion Dubois, 25, to do a lot of the speaking.
But Harper has refused to be intimidated, shoving Dubois earlier within the week at a media day and exchanging elbow jostles throughout Thursday’s picture name.
“The game is over. It’s all about tomorrow [Sunday]. It’s not about the elbows, it’s about the fists,” Harper mentioned.
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A 3-weight champion, Harper has beforehand held titles at featherweight and lightweight-middleweight however says she feels most snug at light-weight.
“I naturally get down to this weight. This morning I woke up on weight, I didn’t need to take anything off,” she mentioned.
Harper’s document stands at 16 wins, two losses, and two attracts, together with fights in opposition to Natasha Jonas, Alycia Baumgardner, Cecilia Brækhus and Sandy Ryan.
Dubois has 12 wins and one draw however is but to face a marquee opponent. A victory might arrange unification bouts or excessive-profile fights in opposition to 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 mentioned. “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 tremendous-bantamweight bouts and Mayelli Flores is the WBA champion [PA Media]
The undercard for Sunday’s London present is stacked with 4 feminine world-title fights that includes British fighters, all of whom made weight efficiently.
Londoner Ellie Scotney, 28, has the prospect to develop into Britain’s youngest ever undisputed champion – male or feminine – within the 4-belt period when she faces Mexico’s Mayelli Flores for the undisputed tremendous-bantamweight title.
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Both fighters got here in below the 8 st 9 lb restrict, with Scotney towering over the 4 ft 11 in Flores by 5 inches on the face-off.
Flores vowed to deliver “war to the ring,” citing Mexican legends Julio Cesar Chavez Sr and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, whereas Scotney responded: “I’m more than ready. All the belts, all the marbles.”
Northampton’s Chantelle Cameron weighed in for her WBO gentle-middleweight world-title problem in opposition to unbeaten Czech fighter Michaela Kotaskova.
The combat will characteristic three-minute rounds, longer than the standard two in ladies’s boxing, and a win might arrange 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,” mentioned the 34-12 months-outdated Cameron.
Norwich’s Emma Dolan, 27, goals to declare her first world title in opposition to IBF tremendous-flyweight champion Irma Garcia.
Dolan, unbeaten in eight fights, will face the skilled 44-12 months-outdated Mexican, who has had 35 skilled bouts. Dolan promised she’s going to “go in there and take over”.