WARRINGTON'S fighting pharmacist Rhiannon Dixon is the new Commonwealth lightweight champion.

The former St Gregory's High School student stopped Vicky Wilkinson in the sixth round at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool to win her first belt.

Anthony Crolla-trained Dixon from Great Sankey twice decked her Staffordshire opponent with brutal body shots before the referee decided Wilkinson could not take any more punishment.

 

It was another dominant display Dixon, taking her professional record to eight wins from eight bouts but it was her first victory by TKO.

The joy was there for all to see as the 27-year-old ran to embrace Crolla as he leapt into the ring to congratulate his first title winner as a trainer.

It was a night when something had to give because Wilkinson also entered the contest undefeated in the paid ranks, having twice been national champion at amateur level.

But southpaw Dixon, who has been training full-time recently but also works shifts as a pharmacist at Whiston Hospital, was too strong all round and can now look forward to even bigger contests to come in what is expected to be a busy year for her.

Watch highlights of the full fight:

RHIANNON DIXON'S BACKGROUND:

Dixon is the sister of Salford Red Devils back-row forward Andrew Dixon and sister-in-law to Leigh Leopards half-back Joe Mellor.

She won her previous seven professional fights on points.

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

That night, Dixon proved to be a constant threat for the experienced Devonian 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.

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.

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.

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.