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Boxing

Terri Harper, Natasha Jonas leave the bickering to their trainers ahead of historic title clash at Fight Camp 2

Liam Happe
Terri Harper, Natasha Jonas leave the bickering to their trainers ahead of historic title clash at Fight Camp 2DAZN
For the first time, two British women's boxers will do battle in a world championship match when Terri Harper defends the WBC and IBO super-featherweight titles against Natasha Jonas on Friday.

History will be made at the second Matchroom Boxing Fight Camp card on Friday when two British women contest a world title fight for the first time, but there is much more to Terri Harper’s WBC and IBO super-featherweight championship defence against Natasha Jonas.

At the age of 36, this could be London 2012 Olympian Jonas’ (9-1, 7 KOs) last chance at becoming a world champion in the professional ranks when she main events against 23-year-old Harper (10-0, 5 KOs) at Matchroom HQ in Brentwood.

Meanwhile, a first successful title defence since adding the WBC belt to her IBO strap against Eva Wahlstrom in February will mean Harper could eventually become a more recoginisable name in boxing than that of Jonas, who posed with a young Harper at a post-Olympics photo opportunity years ago.

In the run-up to this historic showdown, most of the talking has been done by champion and challenger’s respective trainers, Stefy Bull and Joe Gallagher.

So much so, in fact, that promoter Eddie Hearn insisted the two partake in their own head-to-head press conference just before their fighters did the same on Wednesday.

Once they were done bickering, bantering and talking over one another, it was time for the stars of the show to say their piece in a more respectful and less confrontational manner.

Nonetheless, both Harper and Jonas are extremely confident that they’ll get the chance to knock their opponent out — and that they’ll take that opportunity, the first time it comes.

“A lot of people have said the pressure’s on me, but I’m just enjoying the journey,” said Harper. “I popped up from out of nowhere and I’m just enjoying the occasion. 

“I’ve been told a few times about Joe’s mind games so I just switch off and do what I have to do. 

“We’re prepared for the best Tasha, and she feels like she’s back to her amateur best. 

“I’m gonna go for the stoppage. I believe if I land a good clean shot, it’s lights out.”

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This will be Jonas’ first fight this calendar year — something she plans to use to her advantage.

She explained: “Mentally, the break away from boxing allowed me to enjoy life. 

“Power is something I’ve always known I had. I know I carry power, but it was changing the shots up that was the issue. 

“Everything we believe Terri can bring, I believe we have covered. 

“I believe I’ve turned the clock back to before the Olympics. Mentally, physically and emotionally I’m the best athlete I’ve ever been and on Friday I’m going to show that. 

“If I’m not giving it my all, I shouldn’t be here. If I land cleanly, I believe she’ll go.”

Matchroom Boxing's Fight Camp 2, headlined by Harper vs Jonas, airs live on Sky Sports in the UK and on DAZN in the U.S. on Aug. 7.