Terri Harper Targeting Rematch with Unified Champ Jonas!
Newly crowned WBA junior middleweight champion Terri “Belter” Harper (13-1-1, 6KO) is on a collision course with unified champion Natasha Jonas (12-2-1, 8KO) for an epic 2020 rematch.
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
In 2020, Harper was the WBC junior lightweight champion. She took on Jonas in a fight that ended in a draw. Many inside the boxing community felt that Jonas should have gotten the nod. There were talks of a rematch, and rightfully so, but nothing ever materialized.
Jonas moved up to lightweight and lost a decision to undisputed champion Katie Taylor in 2021. Fast forward to 2022, Jonas not only captured the WBO title away from Chris Namus, but she also lifted the WBC title from around the waist of Patricia Berghult.
Harper suffered the first defeat of her career back in 2021, losing the title to Alycia Baumgardner. Belter would make pitstop at the lightweight division to defeat Yamilia Abellaneda on the way to her most recent bout.
A UNIFICATION REMATCH WITH AN OLD FOE COULD BE NEXT
Terri Harper would accept an opportunity to become a champion again by facing Hannah Rankin on September 24. Following that victory, in the post-fight interview, Harper explained why she took the fight without easing into the weight division.
“The day I lost my fight, I lost my belts, and this is what we’ve been aiming for – to become a two-time champion. This year was supposed to be a learning year, but this opportunity came up.”
When asked if the fans can expect to see the rematch with Jonas, Harper let it be known that is precisely the reason she took the Rankin fight.
“Yeah, that’s why we went up to this weight. This is the reason why I needed to get the win tonight […] we got some history to settle.”
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
