After long expectations, the fight took place on Saturday night and Britain’s Terry Harper won the WBA 154-pound belt by unanimous decision.
Despite the uncertainty of seeing Harper in a higher category, he made his determination come true by dominating the ring from the first out of his corner.
Both boxers fought in the center of the ring where Harper dominated the attack hurting the left chick of the now former champion and a cut on the injured same side’s eyebrow, caused by an accidental clash of heads, bothered Rankin until the end.
Until the sixth round, Harper’s offensive actions were very effective in finding Rankin’s open spaces to land combinations. That put her at an advantage that Harper took advantage of after the sixth round to start walking around the ring a little more just trying to defend himself. But that, while effective, gave him some late rounds in favor of the gritty Rankin.
Harper now boasts a record of 13 wins with 6 knockouts, 1 loss, 1 draw and is the new pioneering corps super welterweight world champion.
