Terri Harper, Natasha Jonas leave the bickering to their trainers
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 junior lightweight defense 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 faces the 23-year-old Harper (10-0, 5 KOs) in the main event at Matchroom HQ in Brentwood, England.
Meanwhile, a first successful title defense since winning her belt against Eva Wahlstrom in February will mean Harper could eventually become a more recoginizable 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 the fighters’ 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 the other 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.”
This will be Jonas’ first fight this calendar year, something she plans to use to her advantage.
“Mentally, the break away from boxing allowed me to enjoy life,” she said. “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.