Caroline Dubois is on a determined quest to become the undisputed champion this year, setting her sights on a highly anticipated showdown with Alycia Baumgardner, which promises to be an electrifying transatlantic battle.
As an undefeated WBC lightweight champion hailing from London, Dubois is eager to unify the titles by facing one of the other champions in the competitive 135-pound division. Among her rivals are fellow Brit Terri Harper, who holds the WBO title, Stephanie Han, the current WBA champion, and Elif Nur Turhan, who claims the IBF belt.
"All three of them hold belts, which is remarkable, and I feel that this year is centered around unifying the titles and achieving the status of undisputed champion. When you have such a lineup of talented fighters ready to make it happen, it’s incredibly exciting," Dubois shared in an interview with Sky Sports.
In December, Nur Turhan shocked the boxing world by defeating Beatriz Ferreira to capture the IBF title, and she is set to defend her championship against Taylah Gentzen this weekend in Newcastle. Dubois will be closely watching this matchup. "Nur Turhan is still somewhat of an enigma. She undoubtedly possesses power and brings an exciting style to the ring, which we all appreciate. However, her consistency is yet to be proven, and I’m curious to see how she handles this pressure," Dubois remarked about her potential opponent.
"Can she box effectively? Can she utilize her jab effectively? Is there someone capable of outboxing her, which I believe is possible? If they can maintain that strategy for several rounds, does she have the discipline to adapt and counter later in the fight? We’re about to find out."
Despite the uncertainties, Dubois envisions a future bout with Nur Turhan as part of her overarching goal to claim every championship in her weight class. "I think every fighter should strive for greatness and see just how far they can go and what they can accomplish. Fortunately, the top fighters in my division are all champions, which makes for an exciting path ahead," she explained.
Dubois is hopeful to secure an undisputed title fight before the end of the year. "I am absolutely committed to becoming the undisputed champion, and I will pursue the fight with Alycia Baumgardner aggressively. If she isn’t willing to engage at 135 pounds, I won’t hesitate to move up to 140 pounds. My aim remains consistent: to collect as many titles as possible, and even reconsider my options at 147 pounds and potentially 154 pounds in the future.
The chance to face Alycia Baumgardner is particularly significant for me," Dubois emphasized, recognizing the stature of her American rival. "This would be an opportunity to fight her at the peak of her career.
"She likes to assert control in the ring and tends to dominate her opponents. But then there’s me, a young contender who refuses to be manipulated or dictated to. I firmly believe in my abilities and am confident that I can stand my ground against her, leading to a thrilling clash of personalities that fans will not want to miss."
What do you think about Dubois’ aspirations and her approach to facing Baumgardner? Do you believe she has what it takes to unify the division? Share your thoughts in the comments!
