Caroline Dubois has announced that she will no longer be working with long‑time trainer Shane McGuigan as she prepares to defend her WBC and WBO lightweight crowns against Amelia Moore at the BP Pulse LIVE Arena in Birmingham on August 29. The bout will be televised live on Sky Sports and will feature ten two‑minute rounds at the 135‑pound limit.
Dubois’ decision to switch camps marks the end of a partnership that began in 2021 and produced some of the most memorable moments in recent British women’s boxing. McGuigan, a highly respected figure in the global boxing community, first linked up with Dubois when the 22‑year‑old was still an emerging talent.
Under his guidance she captured victories over Maira Moneo and Bo Mi Re Shin, and most notably secured a unification win over Terri Harper in April, cementing her status as a unified world champion. Their collaboration was widely praised, and McGuigan’s reputation as one of the sport’s elite coaches was further enhanced by Dubois’ rapid rise.
Despite the success, Dubois explained that her move to a new trainer was motivated solely by a desire to continue growing as a fighter and to pursue an even higher level of dominance in the sport. She will now be coached by Manny Robles, the acclaimed trainer behind the likes of Andy Ruiz Jr., Oscar Valdez and Brandon Figueroa.
Dubois emphasized that her gratitude toward McGuigan remains undiminished. "Most times fighters leave a coach when they lose and they want someone to blame or throw under the bus, that's a lame move," she said.
"At the end of the day, I’m so happy and proud of the journey we had together. I’ve become a unified world champion, I’ve announced myself on the biggest stage in women’s boxing, and we did that with Shane McGuigan as my coach and a massive part of my team." She continued, "I just want to say a massive thank you to Shane McGuigan who was a phenomenal coach and is a phenomenal coach. I’m honoured, proud and privileged to be part of that.
That work doesn’t get forgotten, lost or disappear; it grows and adds to the stable. I’m on a quest for greatness and will do whatever it takes to get there, and for me, moving to America and trying a different coaching team is part of that quest." Dubois stressed that a fighter should never become complacent. "I want to grow and develop and be the best fighter you’ve ever seen.
A fighter should never stop learning or growing or limit themselves," she added, underscoring the mindset that prompted her transition to Robles’ camp. The upcoming fight against Moore will be part of a card that showcases a strong UK‑USA rivalry, with Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron headlining the event. Both Dubois and Moore will fight at lightweight, and the bout will be contested over ten two‑minute rounds, a format that adds a fast‑paced, high‑energy dynamic to the contest.
Dubois also expressed frustration with the current landscape of her division, noting that she would have preferred a unification bout rather than a simple defence. She had been in talks with Turkish contender Elif Nur Turhan for a potential clash, but negotiations fell apart over what Dubois described as an "astronomical, ridiculous" purse demand.
"The amount she asked for was absurd. It wasn’t even a laugh; it was just so ridiculous you’d think I was lying," Dubois said. "She’s a joker, and with jokers you just leave them alone.
That’s retirement money, never‑fight‑again money." While the Turhan fight may still materialise in the future, Dubois is already eyeing other high‑profile opponents. She has indicated interest in a showdown with WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han, and earlier this year she publicly called out Alycia Baumgardner, urging that their long‑awaited encounter happen "sooner rather than later." These statements reflect Dubois’ ambition to face the very best and to solidify her legacy across multiple weight classes. McGuigan, speaking to Sky Sports earlier in 2023, had predicted that Dubois would eventually capture every belt in the lightweight division and even suggested she could become an undisputed champion across lightweight, super‑lightweight and welterweight.
"Even though the lightweight division is probably the most highly contested division in female boxing, she’s blitzing everybody," he remarked. "I genuinely believe she can do it at lightweight, super‑lightweight and welterweight. She’s still developing.
She’s getting much better all the time." Former undisputed champion Ellie Scotney also weighed in, describing Dubois as a "generational talent" who is only beginning to tap into her full potential. "It’s one of those moments where a fighter has to follow something new that she wants to align with," Scotney said. "Nothing was going wrong for her to make that move, but sometimes you just have to make a change, and I think she’s at that place." The upcoming Birmingham event, branded MVPW‑06, promises a night of high‑octane women's boxing, with Dubois’ title defence serving as a key attraction. Fans can watch the fight live on Sky Sports or stream it via a contract‑free boxing platform, ensuring broad accessibility.
As Dubois steps into a new training environment, all eyes will be on whether the change propels her to even greater heights, or whether her established partnership with McGuigan will be remembered as the catalyst that launched her to the pinnacle of the sport.