Alycia Baumgardner brushed aside any notion that she is intimidated by Caroline Dubois, maintaining that the British fighter has not yet reached her own level as discussions about a possible showdown continue to swirl. The American holder of the WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring super‑featherweight belts was recently accused by former champion Claressa Shields of avoiding a bout with Dubois out of fear of a second professional loss.
Both stars, however, have found themselves linked again after Baumgardner’s upcoming world‑title clash with Turkey’s Elif Nur Turhan on November 8, while Dubois is set to meet Amelia Moore this Saturday. The winners of those contests could be poised for a high‑profile clash later in the year.
In a candid interview with Sky Sports, Baumgardner said, "Claressa has always been jealous of me because she doesn’t fight in my weight class and can’t land the biggest fights. But I could never be scared of anybody. You can’t be scared when you’re doing a sport like this." She added that the allegations of fear were baseless and that any boxer who steps into the ring must be prepared to face any opponent, regardless of reputation.
Baumgardner has previously hinted that a bout with Dubois would be premature for the 25‑year‑old Frenchwoman, who is defending her WBC and WBO lightweight titles against Moore in the co‑main event of MVPW‑06, which also features Mikaela Mayer versus Chantelle Cameron. While Baumgardner respects Dubois’s hunger and work ethic, she believes the British fighter still needs to prove herself at the elite level before earning a shot at the American champion.
"She’s still got to reach my level, but I love that she’s hungry and wants a challenge," Baumgardner explained. "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 admire her ambition." During a press conference in Birmingham, Baumgardner surprised former rival Mikaela Mayer by asking a question from the front row.
When prompted about what she would ask Dubois, Baumgardner replied, "I’d ask her why she feels the need to go to other trainers I’ve worked with and ask how she can beat me. If you’re confident you don’t need to ask those kinds of questions. People talk, but I’m in the USA now – this is my country." The prospect of a Dubois‑Baumgardner fight remains tantalising, yet Baumgardner insists her focus is on Turhan, who boasts an unbeaten 14‑0 record 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 know Amelia Moore – I’ve seen her, she’s game – but anything can happen on fight night." MVP co‑founder Nakisa Bidarian warned that both Dubois and Baumgardner must not underestimate their opponents, but she also believes a clash between the two would capture worldwide 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 would steamroll a 27‑year‑old, even Serrano probably thought she’d annihilate her opponent. I hope Caroline stays focused, because if she handles that, and if Alycia gets past the Turkish knockout artist, we have a super‑fight that could energise women’s boxing globally." Mayer, whose two career losses include a split‑decision defeat to Baumgardner in October 2022 – a result she still feels should have gone her way – also weighed in on the potential domino effect of Turhan’s power. "I think it’ll be a great fight, a fight that definitely needs to happen," Mayer said.
"Alycia finally moved up to 135. She hasn’t taken a real challenge since me, and that was years ago.
It’s time for her to do that, but Turhan is a knockout monster. If Alycia gets caught, the whole trajectory could shift and we might 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 it through contract‑free boxing platforms. The narrative surrounding Baumgardner, Dubois, and Turhan continues to build, and while Baumgardner remains steadfast in her preparation for Turhan, the boxing community will be watching closely to see if a future showdown between the two fierce competitors materialises.