With the boxing world in mourning this week, there was a poignant second when these in attendance applauded a 10-bell salute in reminiscence of boxer Georgia O’Connor, who died aged 25 on Thursday.
O’Connor misplaced her battle with most cancers and was a massively widespread determine amongst her fellow fighters.
The occasion was hosted by relative newcomers GBM, in what was the promotional outfit’s first stadium card and world-title headliner.
After every struggle on the principle undercard went to factors, Harper made her ring stroll on the late time of 23:10 BST.
Nicknamed ‘Belter’, she entered to Gerry Cinnamon’s people music with the identical title.
A number of followers had already left, however those that remained gave her a hero’s welcome.
The gulf at school was obvious as early as the primary minute when a left hook from Harper drew chants of “Yorkshire” from the group.
The previous super-featherweight and light-middleweight champion pinned Zimmermann on the ropes and was touchdown to the pinnacle and physique.
Hamburg’s Zimmermann had gained all 13 skilled bouts, having solely began boxing aged 37, however in Harper she confronted somebody who had gone toe-to-toe with world-class operators reminiscent of Natasha Jonas and Alycia Baumgardner.
Zimmermann’s will to win didn’t match her expertise as she rushed in her punches and struggled to make any openings.
She did land a stable uppercut within the sixth as a dejected Harper started to chop a pissed off determine.
Blood poured down from Zimmermann’s head after the unintended head conflict within the remaining spherical, however Harper – who earlier than the struggle stated she could be disillusioned with a factors win – couldn’t discover the telling blow.
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