Terri Harper Confident She Can Stop Natasha Jonas

WBC and IBO Super-Featherweight World Champion Terri Harper (10-0, 5 KO) is backing herself to stop Natasha Jonas (9-1, 7K0) when the pair throw down this Friday, August 7. The two British fighters will square off in the main event of week 2 of the Matchroom Fight Camp, taking place in Brentwood, Essex. 

Friday’s contest will be Harper’s first defense of her WBC title after taking the belt from Eva Wahlstrom back in February. In Jonas, she will be facing the first female British boxer to compete at the Olympics, but the 23-year-old Harper is unfazed by her opponent’s amateur pedigree.

“For me, professional and amateur boxing are two completely different styles. We’re not going to do anything daft. We’re not just going to be looking for a stoppage. I’m going to use my engine that for some reason, Natasha thinks could be a bad thing. I’m going to work Natasha all night and break her down,” Harper said.

“Tasha gets caught quite a lot, and I’m a big strong Super-Featherweight. When I get in the ring, I’m easily a good 10 or 12 pounds heavier than what I was at the weigh-in the day before. I’ve got a bit of meat behind my punches, and I strongly believe I could get a stoppage over Tasha.”

One opponent that both Harper and Jonas have in common is Brazil’s, Viviane Obenauf. Harper picked up a dominant unanimous decision over Obenauf last November. In contrast, Obenauf defeated Jonas in the fourth — having dropped her twice in the third — of their 2018 clash. Harper is not reading too much into her win over Obenauf. However, she does use it as a rebuttal to some of the comments Jonas has been making.

“She keeps saying there’s nothing I do better than her, but obviously I beat Viviane Obenauf. I’m not going to go off that fight, but I think I’ve got one up on Natasha. Every fight I’m having, I’m always thinking about that next step and reaching the next level. I enjoy the risks, but I feel I have great momentum, and I can’t see anything stopping me at the minute.”

If Harper does get past Jonas, she will have the USA’s Mikaela Mayer (13-0,5 ) looking over shoulder. The undefeated Top Rank promoted boxer has been calling for a shot at Harper’s crown, though with current travel transatlantic restrictions in place, it could be some time before this fight would be feasible.

Who do you think will earn the victory this Friday?