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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I thought it was a brilliant fight – I’m so glad we kept this show on. [Harper] makes history tonight,” promoter Eddie Hearn said.<\/p>\n
He added that Argentina’s IBF champion Beatriz Ferreira could be next in a unification fight for Harper.<\/p>\n
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,<\/a> and just a few years ago was juggling boxing with her day job as a pharmacist, she can hold her head high.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n