HARPER RETURNS AGAINST HARDY IN NOTTINGHAM

Press Release

'Belter' moves up to Lightweight to face former World Champion on March 12

Terri Harper will face former World Champion Heather Hardy for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Lightweight Title on the undercard of Leigh Wood's WBA Featherweight World Title defence against Michael Conlan at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Saturday March 12, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding New Zealand and Australia).

Former WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight World Champion Harper (11-1-1, 6 KOs) returns to the ring for her first fight following the dramatic end of her title reign against the USA's Alycia Baumgardner at the Utilita Arena Sheffield last November. 

March 12 marks the first fight at Lightweight for Denaby Main's Harper since 2019, and the 25-year-old has dreams of becoming a two-division World Champion and a potential showdown with Irish legend Katie Taylor who currently holds all of the belts at 135lbs. 

Brooklyn's Hardy (22-2, 4 KOs) previously held the WBO Featherweight World Title, losing the belt to seven-division champ Amanda Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) in September 2019. 'The Heat' last fought in May 2021 when she was outpointed by Jessica Camara over eight rounds.

"I’m really excited for this fight," said Harper. "Heather Hardy is a real icon in female boxing, when I first turned professional she was World Champion and I loved watching her fights. She’s super tough and always gives 100% in the ring. I used to ask Eddie if I could fight in the States, it’s my dream to fight there and when I was champion I’d have loved to have defended my title against her. She is a big name with a big following and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share a ring with her. I wish her all best in training camp and look forward to fight week."

"I’ve been in the game a long time, and in last year or so I realised I was just going through the motions," said Hardy. "I wasn’t in love anymore, I wasn’t obsessed. I got caught up in the business of the sport and it made me lose my heart. I'm genuinely grateful for this opportunity! Not everyone gets a second chance, especially at my age. I get to be on this stage, on this platform, with one more chance to show myself and the world what I can do."

Tickets for Wood vs. Conlan are priced £40, £60, £80, £100, £150 and £300 (VIP).

Matchroom Fight Pass members will be able to purchase tickets from midday on Wednesday January 19. Priority ticket info will be emailed directly to eligible members.

General Sale tickets can be purchased via StubHub (www.stubhub.co.uk) from midday on Thursday January 20.

Haney wins 23rd as a professional; Serrano too much for game Hardy

By Luis A. Cortes III

Haney wins WBC belt and number one spot by destroying Abdullaev 

After four rounds of Devin Haney (23-0) (15 KO’s) using his speed of hand and foot to completely destroy Zaur Abdullaev (11-1) (7 KO’s), the referee on advice from the ring doctor stopped the fight.  Abdullaev suffered a broken orbital bone after Haney peppered him with jabs and powerful looping right hands. 

Just twenty-years-old, Haney captured the WBC Interim Lightweight title and is the number one contender for the current champion Vasyl Lomachenko.  That fight will likely not take place in the near future, but Haney once again put the boxing world on notice with his dominant performance. 

Serrano is too much for the game Hardy

In a battle for the WBO Women’s Featherweight title, Amanda Serrano (37-1-1) (27 KO’s) was simply too strong, too fast, and too skilled for fellow Brooklynite Heather Hardy (22-1) (4 KO’s).  

Serrano came out guns blazing and nearly stopped Hardy in the first two rounds.  Hardy proved that she is indeed worthy of all the praise of being mentally tough, as she took all Serrano had to offer and gave it her best throughout all ten rounds. 

Hardy had some moments of success, but they would last briefly because Serrano would regain control with her overall better skills.  All three judges scored the fight for Serrano 98-91 twice and 98-92.  Katie Taylor awaits the new featherweight champion, which could be a big fight in New York.  

Hunter outclasses Kuzmin

2012 USA Olympian Michael Hunter (18-1) (12 KO’s), trained by former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, controlled the early rounds of the fight by using an educated jab and fluid combinations to keep Sergi Kuzmin (15-1) (11 KO’s) at bay. 

A check left hook dropped Kuzmin in the fifth round, but Hunter wisely got on his toes and continued to out box Kuzmin, the much heavier puncher of the two.  Heading into the final three rounds, Hunter was in control of the fight with Kuzmin searching for a big punch to end the fight. 

It was not to be for Kuzmin as Hunter continued his formula for success until the final round clearly winning the fight.  Now placing himself in position for bigger fights in the future, all three judges scored the fight 117-110 in favor of Hunter. 

Ford out points Castillo 

Former 2018 Golden Gloves National Champion and Camden, New Jersey native Raymond Ford (4-0) (1 KO’s) used his superior boxing skills to out box the game Rafael Castillo.  All three judges scored the fight 40-36.

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HBO results: Daniel Jacobs defeats Sergiy Derevyanchenko

Luis Cortes' report from Daniel Jacobs vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko on Saturday night from the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden:

HBO results: Daniel Jacobs defeats Sergiy Derevyanchenko

-Luis A. Cortes III

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Heather "The Heat" Hardy's First Loss

Heather "The Heat" Hardy, an undefeated professional boxer (20-0) who recently made her transition to professional MMA, suffered the first defeat of her fighting career on Friday night. Hardy was defeated by Kristina Williams, who made her professional debut, at Bellator 185 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

The end came at the two minute mark of the second round, after Williams, who had been dominating the fight, landed a kick to the face of Hardy. Blood immediately began to pour from the nose of Hardy. Although Hardy appeared to still have the will to fight, the cage-side doctor called an end to the action after examining Hardy's severely damaged nose.

This leads this boxing writer to wonder if Hardy, who won her pro debut in MMA, will return to the world of boxing after this devastating defeat at the hands of Kristina Williams?

(Photo - Boxing Scene.com)

MW