Caroline Dubois has officially set her sights on Alycia Baumgardner, declaring the potential matchup as the future cornerstone of women’s boxing. Speaking in a BBC Sport column, the WBC and WBO lightweight world champion expressed a strong desire to face Baumgardner in 2027, arguing that their clash would mirror historic rivalries like Taylor-Serrano and Shields-Marshall. Dubois believes the sport is in a transitional phase and that this specific bout is necessary to reignite global interest and establish a new hierarchy in the division.
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The tension between the two fighters is already palpable, with Dubois citing “plenty of bad blood” as a catalyst for the fight. While acknowledging Baumgardner’s status as one of the biggest names in the sport, Dubois remains confident in her own superiority. She predicts a decisive victory, specifically forecasting a knockout, which she believes will cement her position as the biggest star in women’s boxing. This confidence stems from her current status as a unified champion, giving her the leverage to demand a title unification bout once Baumgardner secures her next win.
Baumgardner enters this narrative with significant momentum, challenging Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight title on November 8. A victory over Turhan would solidify Baumgardner’s claim to a mandatory or optional unification fight against Dubois. The prospect of a 2027 showdown highlights the strategic landscape of the lightweight division, where both fighters are positioned to define the next era of the sport. For now, the focus remains on Sunday’s bout, but the long-term implications for the division’s biggest pay-per-view event are already taking shape.
Source: Yahoo Sports
