Stacey Copeland column: 'Sandy Ryan v Terri Harper title bout may be decided by who has more heart'

Terri Harper (right) will become a three-weight world champion if she defeats Sandy Ryan on Saturday

Former Commonwealth champion, now BBC Radio Manchester presenter & boxing pundit, Stacey Copeland, writes for BBC Sport to discuss Sandy Ryan's world title defence against Terri Harper on Saturday.

Ryan puts her WBO welterweight title on the line against Harper, who holds a world title at light-middleweight and is aiming to become a three-division champion.

Will Harper cement her status as one of the top female British fighters in recent years? Or will Derby's Ryan continue her journey towards an undisputed title and multi-weight honours?

I've still got a message from Terri Harper on Facebook from 2017, the year I made my professional debut.

She was asking me how to go about becoming a professional boxer. She quizzed me on all sorts, like what gear she needs to buy and wear.

I knew of her but I didn't really know her personally. I was the sixth female to get a pro licence in the UK, so there weren't many women boxers to lean on back then.

Fast forward seven years to look at where she is now - on the cusp of becoming a three-weight world champion. It is just incredible.

Harper has fought and gone toe-to-toe with the best of the best. She's had big wins and feelings of euphoria that fighters crave, most notably when she became world champion at super-featherweight in front of her home fans.

But there have also been big injuries and setbacks to deal with, including that devastating stoppage loss to Alicia Baumgardner in 2021.

The highs have been high and the lows have been low, but all that experience builds strength of character and resilience within somebody.

Harper is now that person who so many other fighters can turn to as they're coming through - a role model and boxer they can aspire to be like.

Ryan - the 'boxing addict' with drive and ambition

Ryan won the vacant WBO title last year and drew a unification fight with Jessica McCaskill in September

When Harper steps out in front of the crowd on Saturday, the reception is going to be something else.

Yes, she is going for greatness but so much credit needs to go to Ryandownload.jpg as well.

Ryan was so unfortunate not to win against Jessica McCaskill in September. Most people felt it was a robbery or at least a very, very controversial split-decision draw.

She wanted the rematch but when she realised that is not going to happen, she insisted on a big-name opponent like Harper.

Ryan is the one who is putting her belt on the line and what makes this so intriguing is the two different journeys the champions have been on.

Whereas Harper famously worked in a chip shop and was messaging me for guidance, Ryan came through a talent pathway at England and then Team GB.

I was with her at the World Championships and a few other tournaments as amateurs. She was really young then but I could tell she was a supreme talent.

I remember her warming up in the changing rooms and throwing this huge backhand - fighters from other countries looked on in awe.

Ryan has always been fanatical about the sport - a boxing addict. Even though she was quiet back then, she was always very driven.

That ambition is still shining through today. Ryan has changed her training team and relocated to Las Vegas. It takes a certain type of fighter, with a certain level of ambition, to make those sacrifices.

A fight which could propel careers of both women

Harper missed out on becoming the unified light-middleweight champion after being held to a majority draw in her title fight with Cecilia Braekhus in October

Should Ryan and Harper put on the type of fight I am expecting, this will propel both of their careers.

They are presumably and hopefully going push each other to the limits and test each other.

Both are well-conditioned boxers, so this might just come down to the matter of the heart and finding that extra gear in the latter rounds - if it gets that far.

I could make a case for both fighters and that's what makes this so fascinating. I expect it to be action-packed from the first bell to the last.

Harper has a good backhand and mixes up her rhythm really well with combinations.

Ryan has a great jab, her own brutal backhand and will have the advantage on the inside because we know she has some unbelievable spiteful shots to the body.

This will be a brilliant fight and it is frustrating it will not headline the Utilita Arena but that is not going to detract from the atmosphere.

If Ryan and Harper put on the kind of fight I expect them to, this will undoubtedly steal the show.