Caroline Dubois has announced that she will no longer be training under Shane McGuigan as she prepares to defend her WBC and WBO lightweight crowns against Amelia Moore in Birmingham on August 29, a bout that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The split comes after a partnership that began in 2021 and produced a string of notable victories, including wins over Maira Moneo, Bo Mi Re Shin, and a unification triumph over Terri Harper in April. Dubois explained that her decision to join forces with Manny Robles – the celebrated coach behind fighters such as Andy Ruiz Jr., Oscar Valdez and Brandon Figueroa – is motivated solely by her ambition to dominate the sport, and she expressed sincere appreciation for everything McGuigan has contributed to her career.
"Most of the time fighters change coaches after a loss, looking for someone to blame or to throw under the bus. That’s a weak move," Dubois said. "At the end of the day, I’m incredibly happy and proud of the journey we’ve shared. I’ve become a unified world champion, I’ve announced myself on the biggest stage in women’s boxing, and we achieved all of that with Shane McGuigan as my coach and a vital part of my team.
I want to extend a massive thank‑you to Shane – he’s been a phenomenal coach and an essential figure in my success. I’m honoured, proud and privileged to have been part of that chapter." Dubois added that the work she and McGuigan accomplished will not be forgotten; instead, it will remain part of her foundation as she seeks new heights. "I’m on a quest for greatness and will do whatever it takes to get there. Moving to the United States and trying a different coaching setup is a key part of that quest.
I want to grow, develop, and become the best fighter anyone has ever seen. A fighter should never stop learning, never stop evolving, and never limit themselves," she explained.
The upcoming fight with Moore will be contested at 135 pounds over ten two‑minute rounds at the bp pulse LIVE Arena. The event will also feature headline bouts between Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron, and the entire card will consist of match‑ups between female fighters from the United Kingdom and the United States.
Despite the excitement surrounding her title defense, Dubois expressed frustration that she is being asked to defend her belts rather than pursue further unification fights. She had previously sought a showdown with Turkish contender Elif Nur Turhan, 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 joke.
If I told you the figure, you’d think I was making it up. She’s basically a joker, and the only thing you do with jokers is leave them alone. That kind of money looks more like retirement money than a fight purse," Dubois said. While she believes a bout with Turhan could eventually materialise, Dubois is also keeping her eyes on a potential clash with WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han.
Earlier in the year she publicly called out Alycia Baumgardner, insisting that their highly anticipated encounter "has to happen sooner rather than later." McGuigan, who has earned a reputation as one of the world’s premier boxing trainers, reflected on Dubois’s rise during his time together. In 2023 he confidently predicted that she would "capture all of the belts" and proclaimed her "the best lightweight in the world." He added, "Even though the lightweight division is probably the most contested division in female boxing, she’s blitzing everybody." McGuigan also hinted at Dubois’s potential to become an undisputed champion across multiple weight classes, stating, "I genuinely believe she can do it at lightweight, super‑lightweight and welterweight.
She’s still developing, and she’s getting better all the time." Former undisputed champion Ellie Scotney echoed the sentiment, describing Dubois as a generational talent who is only beginning to tap her full potential. "Caroline is a generational talent and I think she’s just scratching the surface.
It’s one of those moments where she has to follow whatever new direction she feels drawn to. 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," Scotney told Sky Sports. The fight night in Birmingham, headlined by Mayer versus Cameron, will also showcase Dubois’s performance as she steps into the ring under a new coaching regime. Fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports on August 29, or stream the event without a contract through the platform’s boxing‑specific service.
The bout represents a pivotal moment in Dubois’s career – a chance to prove that her decision to switch trainers will not only preserve her championship status but also propel her toward the next level of greatness she so openly seeks.