Alycia Baumgardner is preparing to step up a weight class for a bout against unbeaten contender Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight championship on November 8. This bold move not only puts her on a larger stage but also brings the much‑anticipated 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 fighting weight, moving from the 130‑pound division to the 135‑pound lightweight limit. The fight with Turhan will headline the MVPW‑07 card at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, and promises to be a pivotal moment in both athletes' careers.
"When I set my mind to something, I see it through, and 135 will be no different," Baumgardner declared in a pre‑fight interview. "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, equally confident, responded: "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." A victory for Baumgardner would make her a two‑weight world champion, joining Dubois—who currently holds the WBC and WBO lightweight belts—in the same division. Such a result would set the stage for a unification bout that could bring the lightweight division within a single win of being fully undisputed. The broader boxing calendar for 2026 is already packed with marquee events, and fans can stream many of these fights contract‑free via the NOW platform. In addition, the weekly Toe2Toe podcast provides in‑depth analysis and behind‑the‑scenes insight, while dedicated boxing highlight reels keep enthusiasts up to date on the sport's most electrifying moments.
At 32 years old, Baumgardner will be on hand to watch Dubois square off against Amelia Moore this Saturday, a contest that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Since December, Dubois has been vocal about wanting a fight with Baumgardner, and her calls have grown louder after she defeated Terri Harper in April to unify the lightweight division.
Despite Baumgardner’s status as a unified champion, she has maintained that Dubois has yet to demonstrate the level of competition necessary for a bout between them. Nevertheless, if Baumgardner hands Turhan her first professional loss, the pathway to a blockbuster unification clash with Dubois becomes almost inevitable. The winner of that potential match would be just one victory away from claiming the undisputed lightweight crown. The co‑main event on the November 8 card will feature England’s Ellie Scotney against unbeaten Tiara Brown in a ten‑round contest for the WBC featherweight title.
Scotney, a former undisputed super‑bantamweight champion, will move up to 126 pounds in an effort to become a two‑weight world champion herself. "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.
Their confidence underscores the magnitude of the evening, which promises to deliver high‑stakes action across multiple weight classes. Fans looking to catch more action can tune in this Saturday to see Mikaela Mayer face Chantelle Cameron, with Caroline Dubois also appearing on the Sky Sports broadcast. For those without a traditional cable subscription, Sky Sports can be streamed online, offering a contract‑free way to follow the sport’s biggest nights.
Overall, Baumgardner’s decision to ascend to lightweight is more than a simple weight‑class change; it is a strategic maneuver designed to cement her legacy and set up a potential clash with one of the sport’s brightest talents. Whether she emerges victorious against Turhan or not, the ramifications of this bout will reverberate through the lightweight division for months to come, shaping the narrative of who will ultimately claim undisputed supremacy in 2026.