Harper-Braekhus rearranged for Wood-Warrington undercard

Featured image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.

A fight between Terri Harper and Cecilia Braekhus for the WBA and vacant WBO super-welterweight titles has been rearranged for October 7th on the Leigh Wood-Josh Warrington undercard in Sheffield.

The pair were initially set to clash for Harper’s WBA belt in May before Norway’s Braekhus withdrew through injury on the day of the fight.

Doncaster’s Harper instead defended her title against Ivana Habazin the following week in Manchester, winning a wide unanimous decision over ten rounds.

First fight added to #WoodWarrrington 🤝

WBA World Super-Welterweight Champion @TerriHarper96 and @1LadyCecilia meet in a two-belt showdown with the vacant WBO World 154lb Title also on the line 👑👑#HarperBraekhus | Oct 7 | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/Ejjm636fb6
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) August 2, 2023

“South Yorkshire Homecoming! So excited this fight is back on – Time to Unify!”, wrote Harper on Twitter.

“Thank you @eddiehearn @matchroomboxing for this opportunity! Let’s go to work @stefybull1.”

Harper claimed the WBA belt with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Hannah Rankin in September the last year.

The victory saw the 26 year old become a two-weight world champion after previously winning the WBC super-featherweight crown.

Braekhus meanwhile reigned as undisputed welterweight champion between 2014 and 2021 after winning her first world title back in 2009.

The 41 year old is now bidding to follow in Harper’s footsteps and pickup world honours in a second weight division.

Harper and Braekhus were initially set to meet in Dublin two months ago before the latter withdrew through illness on fight day. *Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.*

Vacant WBO title:

As well as Harper’s WBA belt, the now vacant WBO super-welterweight title will also be on the line when the pair meet in October.

The belt was previously held by Liverpool’s Natasha Jonas who – alongside the WBC and IBF 154lb titles – picked it up last year.

Jonas has since moved down to 147lbs to win the IBF welterweight title and opted to vacate the WBO super-welterweight title this month.

Main Event:

WBA featherweight champion Wood headlines the show in Sheffield against former champion Warrington in a gruelling all-British affair.

The former reclaimed his title in May as he avenged his defeat to Mauricio Lara three months prior.

Wood dropped the Mexican in the second before winning a wide unanimous decision at Manchester’s AO Arena.

Warrington – a two-time IBF featherweight champion – has not fought since a narrow majority-decision loss to Luis Alberto Lopez in December last year.