Terri Harper looking to take her chance on the big stage

Terri Harper thought she had drawn a line under competing for 2018 but is now determined to make the most of her biggest opportunity so far on Saturday night.
Terri HarperTerri Harper
Terri Harper

The Denaby Main fighter believed her stoppage win over Bec Connolly in October was to be her last fight of a superb 12 months since becoming South Yorkshire's first female professional boxer.

But then came the opportunity to fight on the undercard of Kell Brook's return to action in front of thousands of boxing fans at Sheffield Arena this weekend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And he was not about to turn down that opportunity when offered by manager Stefy Bull.

'I thought I was done for the year to be honest,' she told the Free Press.

'Stefy told me there was an opportunity to get on the undercard of Kell Brook.

'I just said yes straight away.

'It's a great opportunity, a good chance to get my name out there.

'It's a nice way to finish the year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'I'm very excited. It's a bigger stage so I'm looking forward to experiencing it.

'There's a few nerves with it being such a big stage but hopefully I'll not let that get to my head and I'll just do what I'm good at.'

It is little more than a year since the 22-year-old made her professional debut.

Since then she has fought four, won four with the stoppage over Connolly last time out the high point of a promising career so far.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'I think some of the experience I've had in my first year in the space of 12 months has been amazing,' she said.

"I can see how much I've improved every time I've fought.

'Winning the last time with the stoppage, I can see how my I'm developing already and that is in just 12 months.

'I'm excited to see where I'm at this time next year and what I've achieved.

'I'm really pleased with it all.'

Harper set to face Tanzania's Feriche Mashauri on Saturday night, which will be the first time she has come up against an opponent with a winning record.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mashauri has lost once in her seven fight career, when she was beaten by Nina Bradley for the Commonwealth title last time out.

'She's only lost that one to Bradley," Harper said.

'I've watched a few YouTube videos of her but that's it really.

'It's a nice challenge for me to have because she's got that winning record.