Caroline Dubois didn’t mince words on Saturday night, branding her American counterpart Alycia Baumgardner a coward after a tense exchange at ringside. The two fighters, already linked by fans and promoters to a possible blockbuster bout, have been trading barbs ever since Baumgardner announced she will move up to Dubois’ weight class for a title challenge against Elif Nur Turhan on November 8.
The confrontation unfolded moments after Dubois secured a unanimous decision victory over Amelia Moore in Birmingham. Baumgardner, who was watching from the crowd, approached the ropes and engaged in a brief but heated tug‑of‑war over the microphone. The exchange only added fuel to an already smoldering rivalry that has been building over the past few months. Dubois later took aim at Baumgardner for skipping the post‑fight press conference, calling her absence a sign of cowardice.
“I’m surprised she isn’t there. I think she’s a coward,” Dubois said. “I wish she was here so I could say it to her face. I really do.
I think she’s a coward because she isn’t here today. She should have come to the press conference.
This is the biggest fight in women’s boxing.” Baumgardner, for her part, dismissed Dubois’s performance as “lackluster” and warned that the British champion would need to “tighten up” if she hoped to beat the former undisputed world champion. The back‑and‑forth has turned into a full‑blown war of words, with each side questioning the other’s credentials and willingness to face each other in the ring. Dubois didn’t stop there. She pointed out that Baumgardner has yet to secure marquee match‑ups against the sport’s most celebrated names, such as Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields.
“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 degree of sportsmanship, saying she hopes Baumgardner can defeat Turhan in November. “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 added.
Another name that has surfaced in the conversation is Stephanie Han, who could become a third option for Dubois. Dubois recently defended her WBA lightweight title with a majority decision over veteran Holly Holm, and she said that MVP co‑founder Nakisa Bidarian had flown her out earlier in the year to watch Han fight Holm.
“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 said. MVP founder Jake Paul, speaking to Sky Sports, confirmed that his promotion is fully prepared to sign contracts whenever the fighters decide to move forward. “We are 100 per cent ready to go when they want to sign the contracts,” Paul said regarding a Dubois‑Baumgardner showdown.
The rivalry has also drawn comments from other high‑profile boxers. Former champion Claressa Shields accused Baumgardner of being “scared” of Dubois, prompting the American to fire back and label Shields “jealous.” In response, Paul defended his athlete, stating, “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. He added, “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.” The buildup to a potential Dubois‑Baumgardner clash reflects a broader trend in women’s boxing: the sport is finally receiving the high‑stakes promotion and media attention it deserves. Both fighters bring impressive resumes.
Dubois, at 25, already holds the IBF lightweight title and has defended it successfully against a range of opponents, while Baumgardner has made a name for herself by moving up weight classes and challenging top contenders. If the fight does materialise, it would likely be billed as the biggest women’s boxing event of the year, if not the decade. The narrative is rich: a British champion versus an American challenger, a dispute over courage and legitimacy, and the looming question of who truly deserves the spotlight in the lightweight division. Beyond the personal animosity, the matchup could have significant implications for the sport's marketability.
A high‑profile bout would attract sponsors, broadcasters, and a global audience eager for top‑tier female boxing. It could also pave the way for future super‑fights, encouraging promoters to invest more heavily in women's divisions. As the November 8 date approaches, fans will be watching closely to see whether Baumgardner can secure the Turhan win and earn the right to face Dubois, or whether Dubois will continue to dominate the lightweight scene and force a direct confrontation. Until then, the verbal sparring continues, each side sharpening their arguments and promising a showdown that could redefine women's boxing on the world stage.