Pharmacist turned professional boxer Rhiannon Dixon outpoints Argentina’s Karen Carabajal to win the vacant WBO World Lightweight title.
On Saturday 13th April at Manchester Arena, Carabajal suffered the second professional defeat of her career, with the first being to Katie Taylor.
The rounds were very competitive, but Dixon put on a clinical performance abound with eye-catching shots to secure most of the early rounds.
During round three, Dixon sent Carabajal to the canvas with a spiteful left hand, but Carabajal managed to compose herself and get back up before the end of the 8 count.
In the later rounds, Dixon appeared to tire which Carabajal took advantage of by closing the distance and putting on the pressure, but by this point it was too late for the Argentine to win on points according to this observer.
Despite Dixon’s best efforts to recreate the knockdown, the fight went the distance which the judges scored 98-91, 96-93, and 97-92 all in favour of Dixon.
Dixon’s win opens lots of new doors to big fights, most notably IBO World Champion Caroline Dubois and Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira, who fights for the IBF belt later this month.
Given Dixon’s unconventional background, it might be sensible for her to make some tactical defences before calling out the two former Olympians.
That said, Dixon’s team have to be commended for how they’ve navigated her career so far. From a handful of white collar fights to World Champion in her 10th professional contest, Dixon hasn’t put a foot wrong when it comes to matching opponents.
Dixon’s story quite literally feels like the plot of a feel-good film. The question is, how much further can she go?