Alycia Baumgardner is preparing to step up a weight class and take on unbeaten contender Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight championship on November 8. The bout, scheduled as the headline attraction of the MVPW-07 card at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, marks a pivotal moment in Baumgardner’s career and brings the much‑talked‑about showdown with British star Caroline Dubois one step closer to reality. Currently the unified WBO, WBA and IBF super‑featherweight champion, Baumgardner will add five pounds to her frame and compete at the 135‑pound limit.
The move is a calculated risk, but one she embraces with confidence. "When I set my mind to something, I see it through, and 135 will be no different," she declared. "This is a super fight, the kind of fight boxing deserves, and the beginning of my next chapter. I know what it takes to become undisputed.
I've done it before, and I'll do it again." Turhan, who entered the ring with an unblemished record, responded with equal determination. "Alycia is a boxer who steps into the ring determined to win, never even entertaining the possibility of defeat.
I know I am facing an opponent who steps into the ring solely for victory. I do not want to lose either.
As two boxers sharing a 'win at all costs' mentality, we guarantee a fierce, relentless battle where everything is left on the line. Two warriors, one fight and only one winner," she said.
If Baumgardner emerges victorious, she will join the ranks of two‑weight world champions and find herself in the same division as Caroline Dubois, who currently holds the WBC and WBO lightweight belts. That scenario would set the stage for a unification bout that could propel the winner to the brink of undisputed status—an achievement that has become increasingly rare in modern boxing.
The broader boxing calendar for 2026 is already packed with marquee match‑ups, and fans can stream many of them contract‑free via platforms like NOW. Weekly podcasts such as Toe2Toe keep enthusiasts updated, while highlight reels and video compilations circulate across social media, feeding the sport’s growing appetite. Baumgardner, 32, is expected to be ringside when Dubois faces Amelia Moore on Saturday, a fight that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Since December, Dubois has been vocal in calling out Baumgardner, a challenge that intensified after Dubois unified the lightweight division by defeating Terri Harper in April. Despite the public sparring, Baumgardner has maintained that Dubois has not yet proven herself at the level required for a direct clash. Nevertheless, a win over Turhan would dramatically shift the landscape. A first‑career loss for Turhan would clear the path for a high‑stakes unification showdown with Dubois, a fight that could bring the victor within a single victory of becoming the undisputed lightweight champion—a title that would cement her legacy in the sport.
The November 8 card also features a compelling co‑main event: England’s Ellie Scotney will travel to the United States to meet undefeated Tiara Brown in a ten‑round battle for the WBC feather‑weight world title. Scotney, a former undisputed super‑bantamweight champion, is moving up to 126 pounds with the aim of adding another belt to her collection and becoming a two‑weight world champion.
"MVPW‑07 is one of the biggest championship events in boxing history, with four back‑to‑back world title fights, bringing together eight elite fighters from around the world with belts at stake in every match‑up," said Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, co‑founders of Most Valuable Promotions. The promotion’s ambition is to deliver a night of relentless action that will satisfy both casual fans and hardcore purists.
In addition to the Baumgardner‑Turhan clash, the card will showcase other notable fights, including a bout between Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron, which is slated to air on Sky Sports the following Saturday. Dubois is also expected to appear on that broadcast, keeping the narrative of a potential Baumgardner‑Dubois showdown alive in the public’s imagination.
Boxing enthusiasts are encouraged to use Chrome for the most seamless video experience, as the platform’s compatibility ensures optimal playback quality for the high‑definition streams. Whether viewers choose to watch via traditional cable, a Sky Sports subscription, or an online boxing stream without a contract, the sport’s biggest moments are more accessible than ever. In summary, Baumgardner’s decision to ascend to lightweight and challenge Turhan is more than a single title fight; it is a strategic move that could reshape the division’s hierarchy. A victory would not only add another world championship to her résumé but also set the stage for a blockbuster unification bout with Caroline Dubois—an encounter that promises to captivate audiences worldwide and potentially crown the next undisputed champion of the lightweight class.