Caroline Dubois sailed through a resilient Amelia Moore before engaging in a heated verbal exchange with fellow contender Alycia Baumgardner on the ringside stage, setting the scene for a possible blockbuster showdown with the American fighter. In the co‑main event of MVPW‑06 in Birmingham on Saturday, the 25‑year‑old Londoner displayed little vulnerability, cruising to a unanimous decision win with scores of 99‑90, 99‑90 and 98‑91, thereby retaining her WBC and WBO lightweight crowns. Dubois opened the bout with a burst of aggressive body work, unleashing a rapid combination that forced Moore to retreat despite the latter’s longer reach.
By the second round she was already probing for range, landing a crisp overhand right that snapped Moore’s head back. The momentum continued through rounds three and four as Dubois shifted her focus to the body, delivering precise hooks that left the American opponent searching for a target while struggling to keep pace with Dubois’s footwork. The turning point arrived in the fifth round when Dubois secured a knockdown.
The fall appeared more a result of Moore losing her balance than a display of raw power, but Dubois seized the moment, following up with a ferocious right hook that kept the pressure relentless. In round seven she landed a series of sharp head hooks, then broke through Moore’s guard with a clean straight left that further cemented her dominance.
By the eighth round Moore’s nose began to bleed, a visible sign of Dubois’s sustained control. Though Moore attempted a late surge in the ninth, the champion’s front‑foot advantage proved too much. The final round saw Moore sustain a cut from an accidental clash of heads, but the damage was already done. The judges’ scores reflected Dubois’s superiority, granting her a decisive unanimous verdict and solidifying her status as the division’s premier lightweight.
After the fight, the atmosphere shifted from physical to verbal as Baumgardner, a former undisputed champion who will step into the lightweight ranks for her bout against Elif Nur Turhan on November 8, launched a war of words. Throughout the week in Birmingham, Baumgardner had been vocal, questioning Dubois’s readiness and comparing her to legends such as Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields. "That was a lackluster performance," Baumgardner declared, adding, "You gotta tighten up, baby girl. You were tired.
I'm going to show you what an undisputed champ does at lightweight." Dubois fired back with equal intensity: "I’ve been calling for this fight for a long time. After my last bout I said, ‘Move up and fight that bum.’ What happened to Serrano?
To Taylor? To Shields?
You haven’t earned what you want. I have. I’m the best in this division, and I’m 25.
I’m better than you." She continued, "If you get past Turhan, there will be no denying it. Everything I asked for has happened. I’m going to knock this bum out, you better believe it." The exchange underscored the growing rivalry between the two fighters, each confident that they are the rightful heir to lightweight supremacy. Baumgardner’s upcoming fight with Turhan will serve as a litmus test; a victory could propel her into a direct confrontation with Dubois, while a loss might reinforce Dubois’s claim to the throne.
In addition to the headline bout, the event featured several notable performances. Terri Harper made a triumphant return to the ring, delivering a clinical second‑round stoppage of Houston’s Miranda Reyes. Harper opened with a perfectly timed left hand that sent Reyes to the canvas, and after a brief rise she followed with a barrage of hooks and a crushing right that forced the referee to halt the contest.
"One of the best performances of my career," Harper told Sky Sports, adding that she felt grateful to MVP for giving her a swift comeback after her April defeat to Dubois. Meanwhile, American Reina Tellez showcased a ferocious attacking style to edge out Jessica Barry in a tightly contested 96‑94 points decision.
Tellez, who famously stepped in on fifteen days’ notice to face Amanda Serrano earlier in the year, relied on speed and power, landing cleaner, more eye‑catching shots throughout the early rounds. Although she was deducted a point in round six for a low blow, she rebounded with a brutal right hand in round eight that unsettled Barry. Tellez acknowledged a touch of ring rust but praised her own heart and the platform provided by MVP. The night also saw Tysie Gallagher celebrate her MVP debut with a points win over Chicago’s Brandi Robinson, improving her professional record to 11‑2.
Gallagher admitted she was not fully satisfied with her performance, noting that she “couldn’t really get going” and promising a stronger showing in future outings. Overall, the MVPW‑06 card delivered a blend of dominant performances, emerging talent, and simmering rivalries that set the stage for an exciting lightweight landscape in 2026. Dubois’s authoritative victory over Moore, coupled with her outspoken confidence, positions her as the clear focal point for any future unification bout.
Baumgardner’s upcoming clash with Turhan will likely determine whether she can legitimately stake a claim against Dubois, while the undercard fighters continue to build momentum and depth within the division. The narrative threads woven on Saturday night suggest that fans can anticipate further high‑stakes match‑ups, compelling storylines, and a continued evolution of women’s lightweight boxing in the months ahead.