Terri Harper loses world title after terrifying KO left her ‘asleep on her feet’

A world champion has lost her crown but the boxing world has heaped praise on the referee, who may have saved more than her face.

Terri Harper’s world title reign was ended by a sickening right hand from Alycia Baumgardner.

The 25-year-old Yorkshire lass lost her WBC super-featherweight title inside four Sheffield rounds when the American stunned her with a peach of a shot.

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The Denaby heroine returned after a year out with injury but was blown out by the 27-year-old Ohio ace.

Baumgardner arrived ready to play the villain, starting off with a low lead hand and insulting the fans’ favourite.

Baumgartner celebrates the win. Photo: Fox Sports

The American challenger was clearly seen from ringside calling the 25-year-old a “b****” inside the ropes but, once Harper settled back into the hurt business, she punished her for her rudeness with a couple of rapid combinations.

But the second turned the fight quickly as Harper was rocked by a handful of big shots and buzzed by Baumgardner bombs.

The Brit even hit the deck at the end of the worst barrage but the referee did not rule it a knockdown as she appeared to be bundled down illegally.

Harper recovered in time for the third and enjoyed a more even round but Baumgardner’s brilliant jab, always whipped up from her glittering sequin shorts, regularly found Harper’s nose.

And the fight was over almost as soon as the fourth started, as Harper’s whole body stiffened following a sickening thud.

One brutal right hand robbed Harper of all of her senses and referee Mark Lyson did a brilliant job diving in to save her.

Harper was out on her feet. Photo: Fox Sports

The ref made the stoppage. Photo: Fox Sports

The crowd was stunned into silence and then boos as Harper struggled to recover and Baumgardner rightfully tried to celebrate in front of a hostile crowd.

Baumgardner’s elated team almost caused a riot inside the arena by goading Harper’s gutted and concerned crowd.

But the locals relaxed when they saw Harper had recovered from the devastating blow and are already looking forward to her bouncing back in the rematch she is entitled to.

While it seemed to some like Lyson stopped the fight early, fans were quick to praise the stoppage as it saved both her career, and potentially even her life.

Bloody hell, just turned boxing on as Terry got nailed. A brilliant brilliant stoppage by the ref. Gutted for Tez, you won’t find a nicer girl @DAZNBoxing

— Curtis Woodhouse BEM (@curtiswoodhous8) November 13, 2021

A massive victory for Alycia (also brilliant job by referee prevented damage/injury as Terry Harper was out but standing)! Even though stoppage was in 4th, I’d love to see a rematch..Terry deserves it!
So many ladies in boxing are now qualified stars!#LetsGetReadyToRumble ® https://t.co/Gy1g5npg4p

— Michael Buffer (@Michael_Buffer) November 13, 2021

I don’t think I’ve ever seen that happen in boxing before. Terri Harper just kinda short-circuited

— Ste Hoare (@stehoare) November 13, 2021

Yeah the ref here probably just saved Terri’s career

— Ste Hoare (@stehoare) November 13, 2021

One of the most devastating finishes we’ve seen in a women’s world title fight: @alyciambaum dethrones Terri Harper on English soil with a rasper.👑 pic.twitter.com/T7khzWX9cl

— Gavan Casey (@GavanCasey) November 13, 2021

Dang, @alyciambaum was powerful from jump. Punch ending Terri Harper’s night was nasty.

Eddie Hearn said there is rematch possibility. “It was a big defeat for her,” Hearn said.

Baumgardner called herself the “top dog” at 130. Baumgardner-@MikaelaMayer1 will be a fight to see.

— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) November 13, 2021

When asked how it sounded to be announced as the world’s newest champion, Baumgardner said: “It sounds good!

“I dreamed of this moment, I put it in my head, looked in the mirror every day and told myself I could be world champion.

“My confidence was at 100 per cent and I didn’t see that in her.”

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.