Alycia Baumgardner is preparing to step up a weight class for a high‑stakes encounter with undefeated contender Elif Nur Turhan, targeting Turhan's IBF lightweight championship on November 8. This bold move not only adds a new chapter to Baumgardner's career but also draws the much‑anticipated showdown with British star Caroline Dubois ever closer.
Currently the unified WBO, WBA and IBF super‑featherweight champion, Baumgardner will leave the 130‑pound division behind and test herself at 135 pounds, the lightweight limit. The bout will headline the MVPW‑07 card at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, and promises to be a pivotal moment in the women's boxing landscape.
"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." Should Baumgardner emerge victorious, she will join the ranks of two‑weight world champions and find herself in the same weight class as Dubois, who currently holds the WBC and WBO lightweight belts.
The implication is clear: a win over Turhan would set the stage for a unification bout that could bring the lightweight division one step away from an undisputed champion. The broader context of women's boxing in 2026 underscores the significance of this event.
Streaming platforms such as NOW are offering contract‑free access to fights, while podcasts like Toe2Toe keep fans engaged with weekly analysis. Highlight reels and video compilations continue to draw new audiences, and major broadcasters like Sky Sports are expanding their coverage. Baumgardner is expected to be ringside for Dubois' upcoming clash with Amelia Moore on Saturday, a fight that will be aired live on Sky Sports. Since December, Dubois has been vocal in calling out Baumgardner, intensifying the rivalry after Dubois secured a unification victory over Terri Harper in April.
Despite Dubois' vocal challenges, Baumgardner has maintained that Dubois has yet to demonstrate the level of skill required for a bout between the two, emphasizing her own standards for competition. If Baumgardner can hand Turhan her first professional loss, the narrative will shift dramatically.
The boxing world would then be looking at a potential blockbuster unification fight between Baumgardner and Dubois. The winner of that encounter would be just one victory away from holding all four major lightweight titles—IBF, WBC, WBO, and WBA—and achieving undisputed status. The co‑main event on the same November 8 card features England's Ellie Scotney taking on undefeated Tiara Brown in a ten‑round contest for the WBC featherweight crown.
Scotney, a former undisputed super bantamweight champion, will move up to 126 pounds, aiming 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 reflects the depth of talent on the card and the historic implications for the sport. Fans can also look forward to a stacked Saturday lineup featuring Mikaela Mayer versus Chantelle Cameron, with Caroline Dubois also slated to fight, all broadcast live on Sky Sports.
For those without a traditional cable subscription, streaming options without long‑term contracts are available, ensuring that the excitement reaches a global audience. In summary, Baumgardner's decision to move up to lightweight and challenge Turhan is more than a single fight; it is a strategic step toward a potential clash with Dubois that could reshape the lightweight division.
The November 8 event in Texas promises multiple title fights, high‑profile athletes, and the possibility of witnessing the rise of a new undisputed champion in women's boxing.