Claressa Shields believes that Alycia Baumgardner is avoiding a showdown with Caroline Dubois out of fear of another career‑damaging loss. The current holder of the WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring super featherweight titles has repeatedly dismissed the idea of a bout with the British prospect, calling it premature and insisting that Dubois has not yet reached her level. Despite Baumgardner's public reluctance, Dubois has continued to chase the American champion relentlessly since she unified the division above by beating Terri Harper in April. Dubois is slated to face unbeaten former U.S.
Olympian Amelia Moore in the co‑main event of MVPW‑06 in Birmingham, a card that also features Mikaela Mayer versus Chantelle Cameron and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports this Saturday. After her fight with Moore, Dubois has made it clear that she wants Baumgardner as her next opponent.
Having moved through multiple weight classes herself, Shields speaks from experience when she explains why she thinks Baumgardner is shying away from Dubois' challenge. "When you have someone five pounds heavier knocking on your door, constantly shouting that they're going to knock you out, you'd think Alycia would simply move up and prove herself," Shields told Sky Sports.
"I think Baumgardner is 100 percent scared of Caroline and doesn't want to jeopardise her record now that she already has one loss. I believe Caroline will win that fight." Dubois, who many are already calling the heir to the "Greatest Woman Of All Time" (GWOAT) title, possesses the "ingredients" to eventually replace Shields in that role.
The boxing landscape in 2026 is crowded with potential blockbuster match‑ups, and Dubois is positioned as one of the marquee names. Fans can stream boxing without a contract via NOW, and the Toe2Toe podcast offers weekly analysis of the sport.
Baumgardner is scheduled to move up to lightweight to challenge Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world title on November 8. A victory there could bring a high‑stakes clash with Dubois within reach, adding another layer of intrigue to both fighters' trajectories.
Since winning back‑to‑back Olympic gold medals, Shields has compiled an unbeaten 19‑fight record, captured world titles in several divisions, and declared herself the Greatest Woman Of All Time. She admits that when she eventually hangs up her gloves, she has already identified a successor: Caroline Dubois.
"When they asked me who will carry the torch after I'm gone, I said Caroline Dubois," Shields said. "Gabriela Fundora will be a force, but right now Caroline is right there. She's calling out the biggest and best, she's confident, loud, aggressive, scoring knockouts at the perfect time." Dubois, the unified WBC and WBO lightweight champion, is one of the hottest prospects in British and women's boxing. A win over Moore in Birmingham would be another step toward undisputed status.
Shields has taken a keen interest in Dubois' career, pledging support regardless of the path the young fighter chooses. "Caroline has her own name," Shields remarked. "If she wants to be called the GWOAT, she's breaking records and earning accolades, and I won't be upset as long as she keeps doing GWOAT things—fighting the best, winning, and collecting belts." Shields also highlighted the difficulty of surpassing her own achievements, noting that she had just become a 21‑time world champion.
Yet she believes Dubois has the "IT factor" and will fight anyone. "I'll be there supporting her. If she ever needs me in camp, she'll know I'm available.
We joke about sparring; one day it will happen. She's already asked me for advice, and I told her to enjoy her career, make it her own, and never underestimate an opponent." The upcoming Sky Sports broadcast will feature not only the Mayer‑Cameron bout but also Dubois' performance against Moore, offering viewers a glimpse of the future of women's boxing.
Fans can watch live on Sky Sports or stream the event without a contract through various platforms. The narrative unfolding between Shields, Baumgardner, and Dubois underscores a generational shift in the sport, with the younger fighter poised to inherit the mantle of greatness while the veterans provide mentorship and, occasionally, candid criticism. As the calendar fills with potential match‑ups, the boxing world watches closely to see whether Dubois can indeed fulfill the prophecy of becoming the next GWOAT.