This week has cast a shadow over the boxing community as fans and fighters alike paid tribute to Georgia O’Connor, a rising star who tragically passed away at the tender age of 25 after her courageous battle with cancer.
O’Connor was revered not just for her skill in the ring but also for her vibrant spirit, making her loss felt deeply among her peers.
The event marked the debut stadium card for the emerging promotional company GBM, featuring their first-ever world-title headline fight.
After a series of tightly contested bouts that went to the judges, Harper made her entrance into the ring at 23:10 BST, accompanied by the uplifting folk anthem “Belter” by Gerry Cinnamon.
Although some fans had already departed, the attendees who remained gave her a hero’s welcome, underscoring her popularity.
From the opening moments, it was clear that Harper held a significant advantage, landing a powerful left hook that ignited a chant of “Yorkshire” from the crowd.
As a former super-featherweight and light-middleweight champion, Harper showcased her experience against Hamburg’s Zimmermann, who, despite her record of 13 wins, faced a steep challenge, having only begun boxing at the age of 37.
While Zimmermann showed determination, her punches were hurried, and she struggled to find any openings against Harper’s skill set.
In the sixth round, a solid uppercut connected from Zimmermann as Harper appeared increasingly frustrated and fatigued.
Blood streamed down Zimmermann’s face from an accidental clash in the final round, but despite her earlier comments about being dissatisfied with merely winning by points, Harper couldn’t deliver a decisive finish.