Rhiannon Dixon fights Vicky Wilkinson for Commonwealth title

Warrington 27-year-old Dixon will square up with fellow undefeated professional Wilkinson at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday with the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title up for grabs.

For Whiston Hospital pharmacist Dixon, who is trained by former world champion Anthony Crolla, it will be her first title shot – coming just eight fights into her term in the paid ranks.

Rhiannon Dixon running through a public workout with her trainer Anthony Crolla at Black-E in Liverpool on Wednesday. Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom Boxing

It will also be only the former St Gregory's High School student's second eight-round contest.

And it is a huge launchpad contest for her in that a win would seem set to secure even bigger fights for her as an expected busy year in the ring progresses.

Dixon said at today's press conference in Liverpool that she is confident of rising to the challenge in front of her.

"When I was given the opportunity to fight for this title, we said 'yes, let's take it'. We didn't know if we'd get another opportunity like this," she said.

"We've prepared throughout this camp and we're ready now to start pushing on to big fights like this so I'm really excited for the weekend.

"I always say with boxing it's like having a good dance partner. Sometimes you can be dragged down to people's levels, but I believe Vicky's a really good fighter and I think she'll bring the best out of me on the weekend."

Rhiannon Dixon after her public workout with her trainer Anthony Crolla at Black-E in Liverpool on Wednesday. Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom Boxing

Dixon, who hails from Great Sankey and is the sister of Salford Red Devils back-row forward Andrew Dixon and sister-in-law to Leigh Leopards half-back Joe Mellor, has seven wins on points under her belt so far.

The last of those came impressively against the tough Kristine Shergold in Leeds in December.

Saturday's opponent Wilkinson, 39, from Wombourne in Staffordshire, also has history with Shergold having fought her for the vacant Commonwealth super featherweight title in Torquay last September – a fight that finished as a draw.

Vicky Wilkinson during Wednesday night's public workout at Black-E in Liverpool. Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom Boxing

The two-times national champion as an amateur only moved into the paid ranks 16 months ago but since then has achieved five wins on points.

Wilkinson, who works for the British Army as a recruiter in Wolverhampton, is a former kickboxer who fights out of the Darlaston Boxing Club where she is also a coach.

She is known to like to take the fight to her opponent, in the same way that southpaw Dixon also serves up her best work.

"It's a great opportunity for me. It's one of them things I didn't think would happen but I do appreciate it," said Wilkinson.

"I think it's a 50/50 fight. I have got amateur background, I know Dixon hasn't but she's got a great team behind her who have given her the experience I haven't had.

"I think it'll be a really interesting fight because we've both got different styles. But definitely a 50/50 fight."

Vicky Wilkinson. Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom Boxing

Dixon proved to be a constant threat for the experienced 41-year-old Devonian Shergold last time out in her first eight-rounder.

Her footwork, accuracy and variation of punches were impressive, as was 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.

Rhiannon Dixon gets through with a big left against Kristine Shergold. Picture: Mark Robinson/ Matchroom Boxing

Although Dixon has no amateur background in the sport, she had seven fights on the white-collar scene.

She has grown with each fight since turning pro in 2019, with the coronavirus pandemic initially stalling her early progress.

Dixon worked on the Covid wards as a pharmacist during some dark days in 2020 and 2021.

While she has been doing some hospital shifts to maintain her pharmacist registration, Dixon has also recently been training full-time.

There is a huge difference in her last couple of performances compared to when she first turned professional, with Crolla clearly making his presence felt on polishing up her game.

Rhiannon Dixon. Picture: Dave Thompson/ Matchroom Boxing

And talking to the media this week she was keen to point out that during her pre-fight camp she has been working hard on every possible scenario that could be thrown up in the Wilkinson contest so she feels more than ready to secure the result she wants.

She first started boxing for fitness and to lose weight and 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.

Other jobs she had before becoming a pharmacist include serving refreshments to fans from the food kiosks at Warrington Wolves when she was 16 and then a stint with McDonald's while at college.

After an injury forced Callum Smith out of his light-heavyweight clash with Pawel Stepien, Diego Pacheco’s WBO international super-middleweight title showdown with Jack Cullen and Robbie Davies Jr’s super-lightweight fight with Darragh Foley are now co-headlining Saturday's fight night in Liverpool.