Alycia Baumgardner is preparing to step up a weight class for a high‑stakes bout against undefeated contender Elif Nur Turhan, with the IBF lightweight championship on the line on November 8. This bold move not only places Baumgardner in the 135‑pound division but also accelerates the path toward a potentially historic showdown with British star Caroline Dubois, who currently holds the WBC and WBO lightweight belts.
Baumgardner, who presently carries the unified WBO, WBA and IBF titles at super featherweight, will add five pounds to her fighting weight to meet Turhan in the main event of the MVPW‑07 card, scheduled to take place at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The fight marks a significant shift for Baumgardner, who has already proven her dominance at 130 pounds and now aims to replicate that success in a higher division. "When I set my mind to something, I see it through, and 135 will be no different," Baumgardner declared in a recent 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." Her confidence reflects a career built on relentless work ethic and a clear vision of becoming a multi‑division champion. Turhan responded with equal determination, emphasizing the competitive nature of the upcoming clash. "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." The mutual respect and shared hunger for victory promise an intense, back‑and‑forth contest that could easily become the talk of the boxing world. A victory for Baumgardner would not only secure her a second world title in a new weight class but also place her in the same division as Dubois, setting the stage for a unification bout that could crown an undisputed lightweight champion.
The prospect of such a fight has been simmering for months, especially after Dubois publicly challenged Baumgardner following her April victory over Terri Harper, which completed the unification of the WBC and WBO belts. Boxing fans have been tracking the timeline of major 2026 fights, and the Baumgardner‑Turhan matchup is now a focal point. The event will be streamed contract‑free via the NOW platform, and the fight will also be featured on Sky Sports, where Dubois is slated to appear ringside for her own upcoming clash against Amelia Moore on Saturday.
Dubois’s vocal calls for a bout with Baumgardner have only intensified since her triumph over Harper, and she continues to assert that she is ready for the next level of competition. While Baumgardner has maintained that Dubois has yet to reach the standard she requires for a fight, a win over Turhan would eliminate any lingering doubts and effectively open the door to a blockbuster unification showdown. Such a fight would bring together the IBF champion (Baumgardner) and the WBC/WBO champion (Dubois), with the victor moving within a single win of achieving undisputed status across all four major sanctioning bodies.
The co‑main event on the same November 8 card will feature England’s Ellie Scotney challenging undefeated Tiara Brown for the WBC featherweight title over ten rounds. Scotney, a former undisputed super bantamweight champion, will move up to 126 pounds in an effort to become a two‑weight world champion herself, adding further intrigue to an already stacked lineup. "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 underscores the significance of the evening, which promises to deliver high‑caliber performances across multiple weight classes. In addition to the headline fights, fans can tune in to watch the highly anticipated bout between Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron, which will also be broadcast on Sky Sports this Saturday. Dubois will be featured on the same broadcast, offering viewers a comprehensive night of top‑tier women's boxing.
Overall, Baumgardner’s decision to test herself at lightweight against Turhan is a strategic gamble that could reshape the division’s landscape. If she succeeds, the next logical step appears to be a clash with Dubois—a fight that would not only settle the question of supremacy in the lightweight ranks but also potentially deliver the sport’s first undisputed female champion in years.
The boxing world will be watching closely as November 8 approaches, eager to see which of these talented athletes will rise to the occasion and claim their place in history.