Terri Harper defended her WBO lightweight title for the first time with a wide points win against the brave, but outgunned Natalie Zimmermann on Friday at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster.
Harper (16-2-2, 6 KOs) secured the WBO belt with a points win against Rhiannon Dixon, while Zimmermann (13-1, 3 KOs) came into this one unbeaten, but had fought at nowhere near the level of her opponent.
Harper’s experienced showed from the off, with Zimmermann eating speedy shots from the champion in the opening round.
The German was game and brave, but having little success, with ‘Belter’ finding another right hand in the fourth that shook the 42-year-old.
The home favourite continued to pick off her opponent, but Zimmermann held firm, and bravely continued to plug away, with Harper unable to find the punches to bring a conclusion to the fight.
It looked like the final round would be a formality, but Zimmermann suffered a horrible cut above her eye that poured with blood, and after a doctor’s inspection, she gamely made the final bell, where the result was academic.
Harper remained on course for a clash with fellow world champion Caroline Dubois, winning by a margin of 99-91 on all three scorecards.
Hughes sees off Sharp
In the co-main event, Maxi Hughes took the vacant WBC Silver lightweight title with a points win against Archie Sharp (25-2, 9 KOs) in a fight that failed to catch fire.
In the little action there was, Hughes (29–7-2, 6 KOs) had the most eye-catching punches, was the more ambitious, and was ruled the winner by scores of 120-108, 116-112 and 115-113 that reflected how difficult the rounds were to score.
Sylvester defeats Mould
Former English champion, Reece Mould was unable to get past Lewis Sylvester, who took the vacant IBO Continental lightweight title with a split decision win.
It was a bloody battle, but Sylvester (16-1, 4 KOs) looked like a handy winner, and scores of 97-93 and 96-94 saw him declared the victor, with a third judge scoring 96-94 for Mould (20-4, 6 KOs).
Flint beaten by Laamouz
It was a superb display of bravery, but Jimmy-Joe Flint was defeated on the scorecards in his clash against Haithem Laamouz of Malta, who took the vacant IBO Continental super lightweight title.
Flint (15-3-2, 3 KOs) injured his arm in round two, and was completely unable to use it, but he battled on to make an argument of it. Laamouz (21-2, 9 KOs) was declared the winner by scores of 98-92, 98-93 and 96-94.
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Remaining Undercard
Ellie Hellewell went ten rounds for the first time in her career, and was made to work hard before recording a points win at super bantamweight against Stevi Levy (13-4, 1 KO).
Hellewell (7-0, 1 KO) ran out a 97-94 winner on the referee’s card.
The sole eight rounder came at super welterweight, where Joe Hayden (18-0, 1 KO) remained unbeaten with an entertaining points win over Lewis Booth (16-2).
Hayden (18-0, 1 KO) took a 78-75 success for the scoring referee.
In six round contests, Taz Nadeem (6-0, 3 KOs) took a 60-55 win against Bahadur Karami (4-30-4, 1 KO) at super middleweight, and at featherweight, Ed Hardy (4-0, 2 KOs) dropped Darwing Martinez (8-32-2, 6 KOs) in the fourth round on the way to a points win.
At super welterweight, Jamie Mellers (8-1, 1 KO) took a first stoppage win, halting Cameron Kaihau (9-2) in the second round of their meeting.
