Caroline Dubois publicly accused Alycia Baumgardner of being a coward after a tense exchange at ringside on Saturday night, intensifying an already simmering rivalry between the two fighters. The two women, who hail from opposite sides of the Atlantic, have been linked to a blockbuster bout ever since Baumgardner announced her intention to move up to Dubois' weight class. Baumgardner is currently preparing to challenge Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world championship on November 8, a fight that could set the stage for a showdown with Dubois.
The confrontation began when Baumgardner, who was watching from the audience, approached Dubois at the ropes immediately after Dubois secured a unanimous decision victory over Amelia Moore in Birmingham. The encounter quickly escalated into a verbal tug‑of‑war, with both athletes exchanging sharp remarks through a microphone. The exchange added fuel to a feud that has been building over recent months.
Dubois later took the opportunity to criticize Baumgardner’s decision not to attend her post‑fight press conference. "I’m surprised she isn’t there. I think she’s a coward," Dubois said, adding that she would have liked to confront her opponent face‑to‑face. "She should have come to the press conference.
This is the biggest fight in women’s boxing," she continued, underscoring the significance she places on a potential matchup between the two. Baumgardner, for her part, dismissed Dubois’ performance as "lacklustre" and warned that Dubois would need to "tighten up" if she hoped to defeat the former undisputed world champion. The American fighter also hinted that Dubois still has work to do before she can truly compete at the highest level.
The rivalry has taken on a broader context within the sport’s 2026 calendar, as fans and promoters alike speculate about when the next big fights will occur. Streaming platforms such as NOW are promoting contract‑free boxing content, while podcasts like Toe2Toe continue to dissect every development in the sport. Dubois struck back by questioning why Baumgardner has not yet secured high‑profile fights against established stars like Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields.
She emphasized that she believes she is already superior to Baumgardner, even at the age of 25. "She’s tried as hard as she can to dismiss me and make it seem like I’m not on her level, but I am," Dubois asserted.
"I’m the world champion, and she’s moving up to my division. Yeah, I think this is the biggest fight in women’s boxing." Dubois also expressed a measured optimism about Baumgardner’s upcoming bout with Turhan. "I hope she wins against Elif, but you never know. Maybe it’s Elif who wins, and then it’ll be me and her facing off, so let’s not write off Elif," she said, acknowledging the fluid nature of future match‑ups.
Another potential opponent for Dubois is Stephanie Han, who recently retained her WBA lightweight title after a majority decision win over veteran Holly Holm. Dubois recounted how MVP co‑founder Nakisa Bidarian flew her out earlier in the year to watch the Han‑Holm fight. "I went to the press conference afterwards. I wasn’t afraid to come to the press conference.
I called her out openly there and then, and she promised me we would do it, that it is a fight that’s going to happen, and I intend to hold her to that. I want to fight Stephanie," Dubois declared, indicating that she has multiple high‑profile options on the table. MVP founder Jake Paul, speaking to Sky Sports, confirmed that his promotion is fully prepared to sign contracts when the time is right for a Dubois‑Baumgardner showdown.
"We’re 100 per cent ready to go when they want to sign the contracts," Paul said, emphasizing the organization’s eagerness to capitalize on the growing drama. The tension has even drawn comments from former champions. Claressa Shields recently accused Baumgardner of being "scared" of Dubois, a claim the American fighter quickly rebuffed by labeling Shields as "jealous." Baumgardner retorted, "Alycia is not scared of anyone. I know it’s going to happen; she has to get through November 8 and then we can have those discussions." Paul added his own perspective, noting that accusations of fear are commonplace in boxing but often misrepresent the reality of the sport.
"I think it’s funny when fans or critics say certain people are scared of somebody – they aren’t scared, it’s what they do for a living," he remarked. As the November 8 lightweight title fight approaches, the spotlight on both Dubois and Baumgardner intensifies. Their verbal sparring has turned into a promotional narrative that could draw unprecedented attention to women’s boxing. Whether the two will finally meet in the ring remains to be seen, but the buildup suggests that when they do, it could indeed be one of the most significant contests in the sport’s recent history.