Caroline Dubois sailed through a determined Amelia Moore on Saturday night, then turned her attention to former undisputed champion Alycia Baumgardner, exchanging barbs at ringside as the two women set the stage for a possible blockbuster showdown. The bout, which served as the co‑main event of the MVPW‑06 card in Birmingham, saw the 25‑year‑old Londoner dominate from start to finish, earning a unanimous decision of 99‑90, 99‑90 and 98‑91 to retain both her WBC and WBO lightweight crowns.
Dubois began the fight with a burst of aggression, unleashing a rapid series of body punches in the opening round that forced Moore to retreat. Despite Moore’s considerable reach, the champion quickly closed the distance, using swift footwork and precise angles to keep the American on the defensive.
In the second round Dubois found her rhythm, landing a crisp overhand right that snapped Moore’s head back and signaled the pace of the contest. Throughout rounds three and four Dubois continued to dictate the tempo, peppering Moore’s midsection with well‑placed hooks while the challenger struggled to locate a clear target amid the champion’s fluid movement.
The turning point arrived in the fifth round when Dubois slipped a powerful right that sent Moore stumbling to the canvas. Observers noted that the knock‑down appeared more a result of Moore losing her balance than a single, crushing blow, but the moment gave Dubois the momentum she needed. She pressed the advantage, following the fall with a flurry of punches that culminated in a sharp right hook, further emphasizing her control of the fight.
In round seven Dubois landed a series of clean left‑handed hooks to Moore’s head, then broke through the American’s guard with a straight left that left Moore visibly shaken. By the eighth round blood began to trickle from Moore’s nose, a testament to Dubois’s relentless pressure. Although Moore rallied in the ninth with a brief surge of front‑foot aggression, the champion’s dominance remained unchallenged.
The final round saw Moore sustain a cut from an accidental head clash, but she continued to trade punches until the bell, demonstrating heart despite the one‑sided scoreboard. After the decision was announced, the atmosphere shifted from celebration to confrontation.
Baumgardner, who will step back into the lightweight division to face Elif Nur Turhan on November 8, approached the ring and launched a verbal assault on Dubois. "That was a lackluster performance," Baumgardner snarled, adding, "You were tired, baby. I’m going to show you what an undisputed champion does. I’m at lightweight now." Dubois responded with equal intensity, reminding the former champion of the challenges she herself has faced.
"I’ve been calling for this for a long time. After my last fight I said, ‘Move up and fight that bum.’ What happened to Amanda Serrano? Katie Taylor? Claressa Shields?
You haven’t achieved what I have. I’m 25, I’m the best in this division, and you know it." The exchange grew more heated as Dubois continued, "If you get past Elif Nur Turhan, there will be no doubt about who belongs at the top.
Everything I’ve asked for has happened. I’m going to knock this bum out, you better believe it." Beyond the headline‑making bout, the undercard delivered several noteworthy performances.
Terri Harper made a triumphant return, dispatching Miranda Reyes of Houston with a second‑round stoppage. Harper opened with a perfectly timed left hand that sent Reyes sprawling, and after a brief scramble she unleashed a barrage of hooks followed by a crushing right that forced the referee to halt the contest.
Harper, speaking to Sky Sports after the win, called it "one of the best performances of my career" and expressed gratitude to MVP for giving her a swift comeback after her April loss to Dubois. In another exciting matchup, Reina Tellez earned a hard‑fought 96‑94 points victory over Jessica Barry. Tellez, who famously stepped in on just fifteen days’ notice to face Amanda Serrano earlier in the year, displayed crisp, high‑volume punching that kept Barry on the defensive for most of the fight.
Though Barry landed a solid uppercut in the fifth round and showed resilience throughout, Tellez’s consistency and power earned her the nod. Tellez admitted to feeling a touch of ring rust but emphasized that the experience only made her stronger, thanking Sky Sports for the platform. The night also featured a solid showing from Tysie Gallagher, who debuted at MVP with a points win over Chicago’s Brandi Robinson, improving her professional record to 11‑2. Gallagher was candid about her performance, noting she "couldn’t really get going" but vowed to return stronger in her next outing.
Overall, the MVPW‑06 event highlighted Caroline Dubois’s continued dominance in the lightweight division while setting the stage for an anticipated clash with Alycia Baumgardner later this year. With both fighters publicly promising to prove themselves as the true champion, fans can expect a high‑stakes confrontation that could reshape the landscape of women’s lightweight boxing.
The undercard’s emerging talents, from Harper’s resurgence to Tellez’s gritty victory, added depth to an already compelling night, underscoring the depth of talent present in the sport today.