Why Terri Harper is happy to fight on without a ringside crowd

The coronavirus pandemic has shut down boxing and all of sport, meaning her first world title defence scheduled to take place on Friday night in Doncaster, has been postponed.

No new date has yet been set, although her promoter, Eddie Hearn, did put out a cryptic tweet last week that good news is coming soon.

With no end in sight to when sport can resume in front of crowds, Harper – the WBC and IBO world super featherweight champion – wants to get back into the ring as quickly as possible.

“It’s still going to be against Natasha Jonas, but I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be behind closed doors,” said Harper.

“I had some good momentum, and this has come and stopped everything, so for me I’ll just be happy to get back boxing again.

“A crowd does have the ability to change a game, you do feel them behind you, and it inspires you that little bit more. So it will be strange if it happens behind closed doors, but it’s got to be taken seriously because I’ve got a belt to defend.

“So wherever it happens, I’ll just be happy that I’m back doing what I love. There won’t be many who can experience fighting behind closed doors so that will be another one ticked off the list.”

Read the full interview in Saturday’s The Yorkshire Post

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