THE importance of Rhiannon Dixon's fight with Kristine Shergold on the undercard of Josh Warrington’s IBF world featherweight title defence in Leeds tomorrow should not be underestimated.
Great Sankey lightweight and southpaw Dixon, 27, who is trained by Anthony Crolla, is on the cusp of title fights in 2023 on the back of winning all of her six pro fights so far – three of them coming inside the last 12 months.
Promoter Eddie Hearn suggests the former St Gregory's High School student should at least be looking for a shot at the Commonwealth belt next year and so she would rather not have a setback against experienced campaigner Shergold over eight rounds in the first fight of the show at the First Direct Arena tomorrow afternoon.
Dixon, who agrees with Hearn's vision for her progress, added: "I'm just gaining experience and I'm enjoying keeping active.
"I had an injury at the start of the year so I was a bit inactive then. I'm really looking forward to putting in a performance on Saturday."
Dixon, a pharmacist who is currently training full-time, defeated Hungarian Edina Kiss by referee decision three months ago, while in that same month Exeter's Shergold, 41, fought for a title in a lower weight division.
⚖️ WEIGH-IN AND FACE-OFF 👀@RhiannonDixon3 vs Kristine Shergold#WarringtonLopez pic.twitter.com/pCzrmoJKQN
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) December 9, 2022
The Devonian went toe-to-toe with Darlaston's Vicky Wilkinson for the vacant super featherweight commonwealth title in Torquay but the contest finished a majority draw – the first of the personal trainer's 14-fight and 14-year career that also features seven wins and six losses.
That was only Shergold's second fight since winning the WIBF and GBU super featherweight titles in 2018, two bouts after returning from a six-year lay off after having first turned pro in 2008.
Dixon took up the challenge of her first bout abroad in May, defeating Mahjouba Oubtil in Bilbao, Spain, by referee decision.
And last December she came out on top by majority judges' decision against Vaida Masiokaite in Manchester.
Saturday will mark Dixon's second fight under her manager, STN Sports' Paul Ready.
She is the sister and sister-in-law, respectively, of professional rugby league players Andrew Dixon and Joe Mellor.
WATCH DIXON'S LAST FIGHT AGAINST EDINA KISS:
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