Caroline Dubois Eyes Undisputed Lightweight Crown
Caroline Dubois can see the finish line now.
The London lightweight, already in possession of the WBC and WBO titles at 135lbs, is closing in on the one thing that really matters to her: every belt, every strap, the undisputed crown. And she has drawn a clear map of how she intends to get there.
Baumgardner, Turhan… and a looming undisputed clash
In the early hours of Monday November 9, Alycia Baumgardner steps up to challenge Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world title, live on Sky Sports. It is a pivotal fight for the division, but perhaps an even more significant one for Dubois, who is already looking beyond the first bell.
She expects to meet the winner for all the marbles.
Dubois has made no secret of it. She wants the undisputed showdown with her American rival next year, and she wants it with all four belts on the line. But she has no intention of sitting and waiting while the IBF situation plays out.
So she’s hunting another champion.
Han in the crosshairs
The remaining piece of the puzzle right now is WBA belt-holder Stephanie Han. Dubois has set her sights on her as the next step in a ruthless unification mission.
"I want to become undisputed and I want to be involved in relevant fights. To unify the division is my dream right now," she told Sky Sports. "The only other champion [available] is Han and we'll just have to see if I can get it in before the end of the year. If not we'll have to go early next year."
That is the schedule: Han next, then the winner of Turhan vs Baumgardner. No tune‑ups. No detours.
"Hopefully we'll be unified world champion by the end of this year or early next. One belt away from becoming undisputed."
It is an aggressive plan, but it fits the pace at which Dubois has been moving through the ranks.
Titles defended, gauntlet thrown
Last month in Birmingham, Dubois brushed aside Amelia Moore to successfully defend her WBC and WBO titles. The job done, she wasted no time turning her attention to Baumgardner, and the post-fight niceties quickly dissolved into a furious back-and-forth.
The respect is minimal. The intent is not.
"She's most definitely intimidated by me. She's frightened of what I bring to the table," Dubois said. "When she looks at me I know that she sees a younger, better, stronger, more talented, more everything better than her. Everything I do is just better than her. I feel like she's threatened by that."
There was no softening of the language. Dubois framed the rivalry as a clash between someone still accelerating and someone clinging on.
"Everything that she has had to work so hard to get I've had it and I've achieved it in such quick succession. She's threatened, she's jealous. She's feeling a lot of emotions and all I can say is I hope she can focus herself, get that win [over Turhan] and we can find out who's the best."
Wanting the rival to win
It is a strange dynamic in boxing when you need your rival to succeed. Dubois understands that perfectly.
"I hope she wins the fight. I'm going to be real upset if she doesn't win because I need to show her something," she continued.
For Dubois, Turhan vs Baumgardner is not just a world-title fight in her division. It is the gateway to legacy.
"Elif Turhan, the champion, versus Alycia Baumgardner, the contender, is going to be an awesome fight. I want the winner. I've made it very clear. I feel like I have been very vocal about the fact that I want to become undisputed."
The path, as she sees it, has finally emerged from the fog of mandatories, politics and broadcast schedules.
"The path has revealed itself to me. The path has become clear now... So close, but so far."
One more belt from Stephanie Han. One more champion from Turhan vs Baumgardner. Then there are no more hiding places at 135lbs.
