Claressa Shields has suggested that Alycia Baumgardner is hesitant to face Caroline Dubois because she fears another setback in her career. The American fighter, who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring super featherweight titles, has repeatedly dismissed the idea of a bout with the British rising star, calling the timing premature and insisting that Dubois has not yet reached her level. Despite Baumgardner's reluctance, Dubois has continued to chase the champion, especially after she solidified her own standing by unifying the division above with a win over Terri Harper in April. Dubois is slated to fight the unbeaten former U.S.
Olympian Amelia Moore in the co‑main event of MVPW‑06 in Birmingham, an event that also features a clash between Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron. The fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports this Saturday, and Dubois has made it clear that she wants Baumgardner as her next opponent.
Having moved through multiple weight classes herself, Shields speaks from personal experience when she explains why she believes Baumgardner is avoiding Dubois. "When you have someone five pounds heavier knocking on your door, constantly telling you they’ll knock you out, you’d think Alycia would step up, take the weight and prove herself," Shields told Sky Sports.
"I think Baumgardner is 100 percent scared of Caroline and doesn’t want to jeopardize the record she already has, especially after taking a loss. She doesn’t want to risk it, and I’m convinced Caroline would win that fight." Dubois, often described as having the "ingredients" to succeed where former champion Katie Taylor left off, is positioned as a future cornerstone of women's boxing.
The sport’s landscape in 2026 is buzzing with speculation about when the next marquee matchups will occur, and streaming platforms such as NOW are offering contract‑free boxing content for fans. Meanwhile, Baumgardner is preparing to move up to lightweight to challenge Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF title on November 8.
That move could bring a potential showdown with Dubois closer to reality, especially if Baumgardner emerges victorious and adds another belt to her collection. Shields herself is a legend in the sport, having captured back‑to‑back Olympic gold medals and then proceeded to an unbeaten 19‑fight run that saw her claim world titles in several weight divisions. She often refers to herself as the Greatest Woman Of All Time (GWOAT) and acknowledges that a successor will eventually be needed to carry the torch.
When asked who might fill her shoes, Shields answered without hesitation: "Caroline Dubois. I think Gabriela Fundora will be a champion to watch, but right now Caroline is right there. She’s calling out the biggest names, the best fighters, she wants the biggest fights.
She’s confident, loud, aggressive, and she’s racking up knockouts at the perfect time." Dubois, who currently holds the unified WBC and WBO lightweight titles, is one of the most exciting prospects in British and women’s boxing. A victory over Moore in Birmingham would be another step toward undisputed status and would further cement her reputation as a future legend. Shields has taken a personal interest in Dubois’ career, promising to support her in any way she can.
"Caroline has her own brand," Shields said. "If she wants to be called the GWOAT, and she’s breaking records and earning accolades, I’m not going to be upset as long as she keeps doing GWOAT things—fighting the best, winning, and collecting belts." Shields, who recently celebrated becoming a 21‑time world champion, acknowledged that her own achievements will be hard to surpass. "Caroline has the IT factor.
She’ll fight anyone. I’ll be there supporting her.
If she ever needs me in camp, she knows I’ll be there. We joke about sparring; one day it’ll happen. She’s already asked for advice, and I told her to enjoy her career, make it her own, stay prepared, and never underestimate an opponent." The upcoming Sky Sports broadcast will feature the Mayer‑Cameron showdown alongside Dubois’ performance, giving fans a full night of high‑level women’s boxing. Viewers can watch live on Sky Sports or stream the event through a contract‑free boxing service.
The narrative surrounding Baumgardner, Dubois, and Shields continues to evolve, promising more thrilling matchups and storylines as women’s boxing moves further into the spotlight.