Alycia Baumgardner brushed off any notion that she is frightened of Caroline Dubois, insisting that the British fighter has not yet reached her own level as speculation swirls about a possible clash between the two. The American holder of the WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring super‑featherweight titles has recently been accused by former champion Claressa Shields of dodging a bout with Dubois out of fear of a second professional loss. Both fighters, however, have found themselves on parallel tracks this week, with Baumgardner slated to defend her world crown against Turkey’s unbeaten Elif Nur Turhan on November 8, while Dubois is set to face Amelia Moore in a co‑main event this Saturday. The winners of those fights could soon be looking at each other.
"Claressa has always been jealous of me," Baumgardner told Sky Sports. "She fights in a different weight class, so she can’t make the biggest fights like I do. But I could never be scared of anyone. You don’t feel fear when you’re doing a sport like this." Baumgardner has previously hinted that a bout with Dubois would be premature for the 25‑year‑old Briton, who will defend her WBC and WBO lightweight titles against Moore at the MVPW‑06 card, which also features Mikaela Mayer versus Chantelle Cameron.
While Baumgardner respects Dubois’s hunger and attitude, she believes the English fighter still has work to do before earning a shot at a champion of her stature. In a broader look at the sport, analysts are already mapping out the biggest fights for 2026, and the potential Baumgardner‑Dubois showdown is frequently mentioned as a marquee event. Streaming platforms such as NOW are promoting contract‑free boxing streams, and podcasts like Toe2Toe are discussing the upcoming match‑ups weekly, underscoring the growing appetite for women’s boxing content.
"She still needs to reach my level, but she’s a hungry competitor and I love that she wants a challenge," Baumgardner said. "When you step up to the plate you’re stepping up to a big dog. I’m the big dog, she’s still a puppy.
There’s a difference, but I appreciate her ambition." During a press conference in Birmingham, Baumgardner surprised former rival Mikaela Mayer by posing a question from the front row. When asked what she would ask Dubois if given the chance, she replied: "I’d ask why she feels the need to go to other trainers I’ve worked with and ask how she can beat me.
If she were truly confident, she wouldn’t be asking those kinds of questions. She’s in the USA now, baby—this is my country." Even as the idea of a Dubois fight looms, Baumgardner dismissed the notion that she would ignore the immediate challenge presented by Turhan, a flawless 14‑0 prospect with eight knockouts. "I think the boxing world wants that fight with me and Caroline, but I’m not overlooking anything. It could be anyone’s night," she said.
"I’ve seen Amelia Moore; she’s ready. Anything can happen." MVP co‑founder Nakisa Bidarian warned both fighters not to underestimate their opponents, yet she believes a Baumgardner‑Dubois clash would capture global attention. "Caroline has a tough test this Saturday against Amelia Moore, a decorated amateur. Look at Amanda Serrano’s fight last weekend—people thought she’d demolish that 27‑year‑old, even Serrano probably expected a knockout.
If Caroline stays focused and Alycia gets past the Turkish knockout artist, we have a super fight that could elevate women’s boxing worldwide," Bidarian told Sky Sports. Mayer’s own history adds another layer to the narrative. She suffered one of her two career defeats at the hands of Baumgardner in October 2022, losing a split decision that many still argue should have gone her way. Mayer also sees Turhan as a potential obstacle to a Baumgardner‑Dubois showdown.
"It’ll be a great fight, definitely needed," Mayer said. "Alycia finally moved up to 135. She hasn’t taken a real challenge since me, so it’s time.
Turhan is a power puncher; if Alycia gets caught, the whole trajectory changes and we could see Dubois versus Turhan instead." The upcoming Saturday card will feature Mikaela Mayer versus Chantelle Cameron as the main event, with Caroline Dubois taking on Amelia Moore on the undercard. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports or stream via services that offer boxing without contracts.
As the calendar fills out, the boxing community continues to speculate: will Baumgardner finally accept a fight with Dubois, or will Turhan’s power prove too much? Either way, the conversation underscores the rising prominence of women’s boxing and the fierce competitiveness that drives these athletes forward.