Exclusive: Refreshed Rhiannon Dixon Ready to Return Ahead of Two-Time World Champion Tilt

Rhiannon Dixon will return to the ring a much more complete and accomplished fighter, her trainer Anthony Crolla insists, as the lightweight attempts to become a two-time world champion.

From Warrington, Dixon had been scheduled to appear on a high-profile show at Altrincham’s Planet Ice venue later this month before being diagnosed with an injury.

The bout would have marked the 29-year-old’s first outing since surrendering the WBO belt to Doncaster’s Terri Harper in Sheffield last September. 

That defeat was the first loss of Dixon’s burgeoning career and, despite admitting his fighter was left “gutted” by the outcome, Crolla insisted her most disappointing experience as a professional could actually prove to be invaluable as she looks to regain control of arguably the sport’s most competitive division.

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com, Crolla insisted: “What happened could actually turn out to be the making of Rhiannon." 

"Obviously we’d rather not have lost to Terri and we wouldn’t have chosen to do that - which should go without saying."

“But I definitely think, with what Rhiannon will have learned from that fight, that it’s going to make her even better and we already know how good she is."

“The experience of being in there with someone like Terri, looking back at how the fight went and why it went like that, has been really informative. Rhiannon is really smart and it will have taught her a lot."

“Because she reacted to it in the right way, I’ve actually told her going through all of that is going to make her even more effective than she already is."

"I know Rhiannon is going to grow so much and really show now what she’s all about.”

Dixon, who worked as a chemist during the Covid-19 pandemic, was set to be part of the supporting cast on March 28th’s Matchroom event in Greater Manchester which heralds Olympian Pat Brown’s much anticipated entrance into the paid ranks. 

But she was forced to withdraw after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in one of her feet.

GROWN IN STATURE

Reflecting on the clash with Harper, who had already reigned at super welterweight and super featherweight before registering a unanimous points decision over his charge, Crolla said: “Terri is hugely experienced and Rhiannon had only been in 10 pro fights before facing her. She’s come a long long way in a relatively short period of time and that’s down to her ability."

“Terri showed that experience and full credit to her for that. There were a couple of moments in the fight when Rhiannon had her in trouble and Terri used the knowledge she’s got to get her through those which will teach Rhiannon a lot.”

“We spoke a few days afterwards about what had gone wrong,” Crolla added. 

“We win as a team and we lose as a team so there are things we’ve identified that we can do differently or better next time around. And Rhiannon will reap the benefits of those changes, for sure.”

Crolla’s own achievements as a boxer highlight how set-backs, providing they are analysed correctly, can actually be the making of an athlete. 

He suffered three defeats and two draws - one against reigning champion Darleys Perez - before eventually dethroning the Colombian and seizing his WBA lightweight strap on a famous night at Manchester Arena a decade ago.

Harper could now face fellow Briton Caroline Dubois in a unification contest providing she overcomes German Natalie Zimmermann at Doncaster Rovers’ football club in May. Dixon is expected to resume her career shortly afterwards, once her fitness issue has been resolved.

“Rhiannon will come back stronger and better than before,” Crolla said. 

“There’s some huge nights out there for her and, knowing her as I do, she’ll channel her frustration at what happened in a positive way. In the proper way, you should.”