Caroline Dubois has openly suggested that her American counterpart, Alycia Baumgardner, is "most definitely" feeling the pressure of a potential showdown later this year. The British fighter has been sparring with words after her recent victory over Terri Harper, a win that secured the unification of the WBC and WBO lightweight world titles.
Baumgardner, meanwhile, is busy defending her own set of belts – the IBF, WBO and WBA super‑featherweight championships – in a bout against Bo Mi Re Shin in New York. The fight is scheduled for early Saturday morning, with Sky Sports beginning its live broadcast at 3 a.m.
Dubois has repeatedly signaled that she wants a high‑profile clash with Baumgardner, but she also believes the American will have a tough night against Shin. "She’s fighting one of my opponents that I’ve already beaten," Dubois told Sky Sports. "I want her to win the fight.
She’s a big name and she does everything right from a promotional and buildup perspective. That’s why fans are eager to see her fight.
I want to see her win." Dubois added a note of caution about Shin’s abilities: "Knowing how tough Bo is, I think it will be a hard fight. I think Bo will expose what I know and what I see. But I hope she can pull through it and have the better skills and win the fight." The London‑born champion is clearly turning up the heat, urging Baumgardner to accept a bout.
"She doesn’t want the fight," Dubois said. "Every time you hear Alycia Baumgardner’s name, the comment section lights up with Caroline Dubois.
She claims there are bigger fights elsewhere, but the public keeps linking the two of us. Fans are calling for Alycia versus Caroline Dubois.
I don’t see why we shouldn’t give the fans what they want. It would be a great fight – it all comes down to whether MVP (their promoter) wants it and whether she can finally find her courage." Dubois has not shied away from a verbal sparring match, much like she did with Harper. "I don’t think I play the villain. I think I play confidence and people get triggered by that.
I’m confident. I know I was a better fighter than Terri Harper," the Briton explained. "I’m not being a villain – I’m stating the truth, expressing how I feel and I’m not afraid to say it. Many fighters feel something before a bout but lack the courage or heart to voice it, because a loss would make them look foolish.
I just have to be myself, and if people get triggered by that, that’s on them." If a Baumgardner showdown cannot be arranged, Dubois has other potential opponents on the lightweight horizon. The division boasts several champions, including the upcoming WBA title clash between Stephanie Han and Holly Holm on May 30, and the unbeaten, hard‑hitting Elif Nur Turhan, who currently holds the IBF belt at 135 lb. Dubois expressed a preference for a fight with Turhan rather than waiting for the Han‑Holm winner. "I don’t think she’s a good fighter, but she’s a very dangerous fighter.
I don’t think the fight would be easy, but it would be dangerous – and that’s what makes it exciting," Dubois said. Looking ahead, Dubois emphasized her desire to keep progressing and to be part of the sport’s marquee events. "I want to continue my own progression," she concluded.
"I want to be involved in the biggest fights. I obviously want to create a great legacy for myself. I’ve unified titles and I would love to do it again." The upcoming Baumgardner‑Shin contest will be streamed live on Sky Sports Action and Main Event, beginning at 3 a.m. Saturday.
The bout offers a glimpse of how Baumgardner handles pressure and whether she can maintain her dominance across weight classes – a factor that will undoubtedly influence any future negotiations with Dubois. If Baumgardner emerges victorious, the narrative surrounding a potential Dubois‑Baumgardner showdown will shift, possibly adding even more intrigue to a fight that both camps seem eager to make happen. Conversely, a loss could reinforce Dubois’s claim that her rival is "most definitely" scared, setting the stage for a high‑stakes clash that fans worldwide are already demanding.