RHIANNON Dixon will head into a title-chasing 2023 unbeaten after securing her seventh professional fight success against Kristine Shergold in Leeds on the undercard of Josh Warrington’s IBF world featherweight title defence.

The 27-year-old Anthony Crolla-trained Great Sankey boxer was dominant for the majority of her maiden eight-round fight, taking the decision of referee John Latham 80-73 in the first fight of the show at First Direct Arena.

Southpaw Dixon proved to be a constant threat in this lightweight contest for experienced 41-year-old Devonian campaigner Shergold, who only seemed to be able to work out how to combat her opponent in the final two rounds.

Shergold, with blood exiting a wound above her left eye from a clash of heads in the fifth round, was rallied late on by her corner claiming that Dixon was tiring.

Although the former St Gregory's High School student was put under a bit of pressure in those last two rounds, she never looked in trouble and still landed some scoring punches even when on the back foot.

Dixon took control from the first bell and looked a class above Shergold for the opening six rounds at least.

Her footwork, accuracy and variation of punches were impressive, as were her ring craft and the discipline she showed in keeping to structure, shape and general fight plan.

She showed patience in working behind her right jab and picking her moments to unleash with some big left punches, a couple of which landed in the first round.

Her sharp and slick movements led to a big left connector that had Shergold stumbling backwards for several steps in the second round.

Dixon pummelled one powerful thrust into the body of Shergold in the third round and her resilience was admirable although she continued to struggle to find a way of scoring herself.

A whopping lead uppercut from Dixon was a highlight of the sixth, when Shergold also walked on to a left blow to the head as she tried to find a way through.

Crolla will probably be pleased to see how his fighter responded to the late efforts of Shergold which should stand her in good stead for future challenges.

Promoter Eddie Hearn spoke at Thursday's press conference of Dixon targeting a Commonwealth title push in 2023 and you have to say she is going the right way about making that happen after a seventh win on points from seven outings since turning pro in 2019.

WATCH THE FULL FIGHT, DIXON V SHERGOLD, BELOW:

It is all a huge credit to the Whiston Hospital pharmacist, who has no amateur background in the sport and worked on the coronavirus wards during some dark days in 2020 and 2021.

She has recently been training full-time and there is a huge difference in her last couple of performances compared to when she first turned professional from the white-collar scene three years ago, with former world champion Crolla clearly making his presence felt on polishing up her game.

Dixon, the sister of professional rugby league player Andrew Dixon, started boxing for fitness and to lose weight.

She has come a long way from her days in ballet, tap and modern dancing that she participated in for much of her childhood, though skills learned then feature now in her brilliant footwork and ring management.