World champion Dixon to face fellow Briton Harper

Unbeaten Dixon (left) will face Harper in the first boxing event at Manchester's Co-op Live

Lightweight world champion Rhiannon Dixon will defend her WBO belt against fellow Briton Terri Harper at Manchester's Co-op Live arena on Saturday, 24 August.

Warrington's Dixon, 29, is unbeaten in 10 professional fights and will make a first defence of the title she won against Karen Elizabeth Carabajal in April.

Harper, 27, is the WBA light-middleweight champion and a former super-featherweight champion so will seek to become a three-weight champion in August's fight.

"Dixon is someone who I have a lot of respect for, she is very respectful and there’s no horrible ego with her," Harper said.

Doncaster's Harper has won 14, drawn two and lost two fights - including a defeat against WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan in March.

"The most important thing for me now is to get a solid win under my belt and be back on top," Harper, who will drop down to lightweight to face Dixon.

The card will be the first boxing event at Manchester's newly built 23,500-capacity arena and will be headlined by Chorley light-welterweight Jack Catterall's fight against American Regis Prograis.