Terri Harper says Caroline Dubois is weaker than she imagined as pair are cut up by safety once more at pre-fight press convention

Caroline Dubois has vowed but once more to knock out Terri Harper in scientific trend on Sunday. She can have issues ought to she fail, warned the latter. 

The icy confidence of Dubois was greeted by the strict composure of Harper amid what has been a fiery build-up to their unification conflict, Friday’s last press convention concluding with a brush of flexing arms that might immediate safety to hurry in because the pair posed for tight-knit images on stage.

Dubois has orchestrated a lot of the verbal forwards and backwards forward of their assembly, nevertheless it had been the flip of Harper to say her presence this week as she shoved her opponent at their first fight-week face-off.

As they exchanged last phrases each performed down any private animosity, Dubois standing by her extra vocal pursuit of an edge and Harper questioning her rival’s mentality.

“I’ve won every battle since the moment this fight was signed, I’ll continue to win every battle, come fight night I’ll win the battle,” mentioned Dubois.

“This is conflict, there may be completely no approach my hand is not being raised on Sunday.

“This fight is not going past seven rounds.”

Harper, the WBO light-weight champion, at one stage joked that her microphone may very well be switched off, such was Dubois’ means to do all of the speaking. Dubois swiftly accepted the thought, more than pleased to just accept the lead.

For the needs of preserving an absorbing environment, the mic remained on.

“Caroline needs to hope she gets the knockout, otherwise she knows she’s in trouble,” she mentioned.

“Caroline says talk is cheap but that’s all she’s doing the last 12 weeks. I’ve been fully focused on the job I have to do Sunday.

“I’ve been quiet on my socials, Caroline has been arguing on-line, getting sucked into all the pieces and I really feel like she’s neglected this combat.”

Harper described WBC belt holder Dubois as the perfect fighter she can have confronted on a resume that additionally consists of Alycia Baumgardner, Sandy Ryan, Natasha Jonas and Cecilia Braekhus, however dismissed her opponent’s suggestion that she should earn her respect.

Having primarily taken a backseat through the build-up, Harper has used this week to go away her personal mark.

“I’m just making her aware I’m not here to make up the numbers,” she mentioned. “I feel there’s only so much you can let her get away with without standing up for yourself.

“She tried to push me, she’s loads weaker than I think about.

“Her mindset [is her weakness], she gets too emotionally invested and caught up with everything. It will be who keeps their head and stays disciplined.

“I’ve skilled all the pieces you may as a fighter and Caroline hasn’t but, she’ll need to reply some questions.”

Dubois retained her love for the noise and clamour ahead of a fight night, favouring the chance to fuel a fire rather than put it out.

“Win by any means, the minute you signal for this combat it is psychological warfare, bodily warfare. You do something to get that edge on combat night time,” she explained.

“I’ve gone after probably the most skilled and largest ladies within the division. On paper she’s my hardest problem.

“I don’t see how it makes me a bully, I’m a challenger, I’m a fighter. I thrive off challenge and pressure.

“I believe she’s been making an attempt to repeat me, she is aware of I’m taking the limelight, it is the Caroline Dubois present. She desires to make it extra about her. I’m not going to dim myself to provide her extra space.

“Her weakness is she’s just not as good as me. Forget power, she’s not as good a boxer as I am.”

Harper defined that she plans to deal with fireplace by fireplace and meet Dubois in the midst of the ring, admitting the primary half of the combat is the place her youthful rival might be most harmful.

She pointed in the direction of her engine within the latter rounds of the competition as certainly one of her key benefits.

“That’s a bid sad,” replied Dubois. “I would hate to be going into a fight thinking all I have is an engine. That’s a scary place to be. All she has is an engine.

“We bought expertise, energy, a jab, grew up sparring solely guys, had my first feminine spar after I was 16.

“I’d love it to get ugly, it’s going to be great, I hope she comes, I believe she boxes on the back foot and I have to go get her.”

Dubois admitted Harper may very well be the “nicest woman in the world” as she waved off any private dislike for the 29-year-old. She merely sees a risk standing in the way in which of herself and aspirations of conquering the world of ladies’s boxing.

“Talking isn’t going to win or lose a fight. What I love about boxing is anything you say you have to back up,” mentioned Dubois.

“We’re fighters, we step into the ring and 100 per cent back up our words. From my side there is no animosity, it’s a rivalry, she believes she’ll take everything I’ve worked for since I was nine and that she’ll stop me in my tracks and prevent me from moving onto what I believe are bigger and better fights and moments.

“That’s the rivalry, that is the place it comes from.”

Watch Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper this Sunday dwell on Sky Sports from 7pm.