Big time boxing finally returns to Sheffield on Saturday night and for Terri Harper who defends her WBC and IBO super featherweight titles against Alycia Baumgardner, she’s just excited to be back in front of her beloved fans.
Harper fought twice during lockdown behind closed doors. The first fight was at Fight Camp last year against Natasha Jonas which ended in a draw and then came a fight with Katharina Thanderz in late 2020 where Harper triumphed with a ninth-round stoppage at Wembley Arena.
For Harper the Fly DSA Arena is a venue close to her heart. It was the stage for her WBC title win in February 2020 and was also the last time she boxed in front of a crowd.
“It’s a special night coming up for everyone,” Harper said in an exclusive interview with DAZN.
“[The Fly DSA Arena} is the last place I boxed in front of a crowd and won the WBC title. Everyone who has been at home throughout the lockdown has been cheering me on and I’m just grateful they can call come out and watch me on November 13th in person.
“It’s going to be electric.”
Harper then went onto recall what it was like to fight during lockdown, something which she was glad to be doing considering many fighters had been robbed of a living due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For me, I was grateful I had the opportunity to get out, there was plenty of boxers who would’ve given their left arm to get out and be in the position I was in,” Harper told DAZN.
“The first fight behind closed doors at Fight Camp, that was a strange one.
“Being stuck at the hotel, you were couped up in your room, if you came out of your room, you’re treading on everyone’s toes, so we kept ourselves to ourselves. It was like being locked in a jail for a week.”
When it came to fighting at an empty Wembley Arena late last year, it was a much more enjoyable experience for Harper and kept her focused for the fight against Thanderz.
“When I thought Thanderz down at Wembley it was a completely different set-up. They had the games room, a large dining area, cinema room, the gym, I felt more relaxed.
“I always said to Andrew [Bulcroft, Harper’s manager] ‘I could easily stay here for another week’, I loved it that much.
“At the time I felt like we were away from any distractions, we were there in the bubble and fully focused the job we had to. I enjoyed both times, but I definitely preferred the second time.”
Hopefully for Harper her stoppage win against Thanders last November will be the final time she boxes in an empty arena, and she takes on Alycia Baumgardner in front of raucous crowd in Sheffield on Saturday night exclusively on DAZN (except for Australia and New Zealand).