Alycia Baumgardner has made it clear that Caroline Dubois still has work to do before the American champion will consider stepping into the ring with the unified lightweight world title holder. Baumgardner, who will defend her three‑belt WBA, WBO and IBF super‑featherweight championships against Bo Mi Re Shin on Sky Sports at 3 a.m. Saturday, says the British fighter needs to further cement her status before a showdown can be arranged.
Dubois recently captured headlines by beating Terri Harper in a much‑anticipated clash for the WBC and WBO lightweight crowns. In the aftermath of that victory, Dubois openly challenged Baumgardner, calling for a high‑profile bout between the two.
While Baumgardner did not dismiss the idea outright, she told Sky Sports News that any fight must be earned through consistent performance and a clear demonstration of champion‑level commitment. "Every fight is a potential fight," Baumgardner explained.
"I think Caroline, on her end, needs to keep building her identity as a champion. She’s talked a lot about becoming undisputed at 135 pounds, while I’m still defending my titles at 130. When we talk about creating a fight that entertains fans, those fights have to be built deliberately." She added that Dubois must "put some more skin in the game" and prove she can match Baumgardner’s work ethic.
"I’ve shown time and again that I can put on great shows and become undisputed. I’ve done my part, now she needs to do the same and then call me out.
I heard she’s considering a move up to 147 pounds, which feels like she’s dodging me. We’ll see what happens." Dubois, however, has other options on her radar. Nakisa Bidarian, co‑founder of Most Valuable Promoters, told Sky Sports that Dubois should clean out the lightweight division before targeting Baumgardner, noting that a fight against a now‑undisputed champion would generate a much larger event.
Bidarian pointed to an upcoming WBA lightweight title rematch between Stephanie Han and Holly Holm on May 30 as a logical stepping stone for Dubois. Meanwhile, at super‑featherweight, the WBC champion Caroline Veyre has expressed interest in a clash with Baumgardner.
Promoter Dmitriy Salita said his camp is ready to move quickly if Baumgardner wins her bout on Saturday. "We have a lot of confidence in Caroline’s ability, mindset, and team. The most natural fight in the division right now is against the current WBC champion, Caroline Veyre," Salita said.
"If Alycia is successful this weekend, we’re prepared to negotiate and make that fight happen as soon as possible." Most Valuable Promotions, the outfit founded by Bidarian and social‑media star Jake Paul, is aggressively building the deepest women’s‑boxing roster in the sport. Their mission, according to Bidarian, is to make women’s boxing a central pillar of the combat‑sports ecosystem, drawing inspiration from Ronda Rousey’s impact on the UFC.
"From day one we asked how we could make women’s boxing meaningful, leveraging the history of Rousey’s rise and power," she explained. "Now we have over 45 fighters, 16 world champions, and we’re positioning ourselves as the reference brand for the sport." Bidarian also shared a personal motivation: growing up with a single mother who struggled to provide for the family instilled in her a desire to support other single mothers and female athletes. Her experience at the UFC, where she helped launch women’s MMA and witnessed Rousey’s unprecedented popularity, reinforced the belief that fighters should be the focal point of any promotion. Jake Paul’s involvement may seem surprising, but Bidarian highlighted his enthusiasm for women’s boxing.
"Jake was supportive from day one and sees it as even more exciting than men’s boxing because these athletes bring a raw, fascinating energy to the ring," she said. "Our strategy has three pillars: the fighter first, targeting a younger audience, and filling the clear gap in the women’s‑boxing market." The upcoming Sky Sports card at Madison Square Garden includes more than just Baumgardner vs. Shin.
In the super‑middleweight division, Shadasia Green will face Lani Daniels in a WBO and IBF title unification bout. A victory for Green could set up a marquee showdown with the current undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields, a fight that Bidarian is eager to facilitate. "We’re definitely interested in seeing how Shadasia performs on April 17 and then working toward a Shields‑Green matchup," Bidarian said. In summary, while the prospect of a Baumgardner‑Dubois clash is tantalizing for fans, both fighters appear to be on divergent paths.
Baumgardner insists Dubois must demonstrate further dominance at lightweight and perhaps avoid weight‑class jumps before a legitimate challenge can be issued. Dubois, meanwhile, is weighing strategic fights that could solidify her claim to undisputed status.
As the sport’s landscape evolves, promoters like Most Valuable Promotions are positioning themselves to capitalize on any high‑stakes match‑ups that emerge, promising a vibrant future for women’s boxing.