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 clash. The bout took place in Birmingham as part of the MVPW-06 card, and Dubois, the 25‑year‑old London native, delivered a masterclass that earned her a unanimous decision win with scores of 99-90, 99-90 and 98-91. The victory allowed her to retain both the WBC and WBO lightweight crowns and reinforced her claim as the premier fighter in the division.
From the opening bell Dubois imposed her will, launching a rapid series of body punches that forced Moore to retreat despite the American’s longer reach. In the second round she began to locate her range, counter‑punching effectively and ending the round with a crisp overhand right that landed cleanly on Moore’s head. The momentum stayed with the Londoner through rounds three and four as she continued to target the body, making the well‑conditioned Moore work hard for every punch and exposing the American’s difficulty in finding a clear target.
The turning point arrived in the fifth round. Dubois slipped a precise combination that caused Moore to lose her balance, resulting in a knock‑down that appeared more a matter of footing than raw power.
Seizing the moment, Dubois pressed forward with a fierce right hook, further unsettling her opponent. She followed up with sharp hooks to the head in the seventh round and a clean straight left that pierced Moore’s guard, demonstrating her versatility and technical skill.
By the eighth round Moore’s nose began to bleed, a visual reminder of Dubois’s dominance. The British champion kept the pressure high, even as Moore attempted a late surge in the ninth. An accidental clash of heads in the final round opened a cut on Moore, but the fight continued to the final bell without any dramatic reversal.
The judges’ scores reflected Dubois’s control, and she walked away with another unanimous decision, solidifying her status as the lightweight division’s top contender. After the fight, the atmosphere shifted from physical to verbal as Baumgardner, who is slated to fight Elif Nur Turhan on November 8 before potentially moving up to lightweight, confronted Dubois on the ramp. Baumgardner, who has been vocal all week in Birmingham, used her final press conference to question Dubois’s readiness, labeling her performance as "lackluster" and urging her to tighten up.
She declared, "You were tired, baby. I'm going to show you what a champion does. I'm an undisputed champ at lightweight now." Dubois responded with equal intensity, reminding everyone that she has been demanding a fight with Baumgardner 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 gotten what you asked for. I have. I’m 25, I’m the best in this division, and you know it," she said, underscoring her confidence and ambition.
She added, "If you get past Elif Nur Turhan, there will be no denying it. Everything I’ve asked for has happened. I’m going to knock this bum out, you better believe it." The exchange highlighted the growing narrative around a potential super‑fight between Dubois and Baumgardner, a matchup that could capture worldwide attention and bring significant financial stakes to women’s boxing. Both fighters have expressed a desire to prove themselves against the other, and the upcoming bout with Turhan will serve as a litmus test for Baumgardner’s readiness to step into the lightweight ranks.
In addition to the headline bout, the MVPW‑06 card featured several other notable performances. Terri Harper returned to the ring after a loss to Dubois in April, delivering a clinical second‑round stoppage of Houston’s Miranda Reyes.
Harper opened with a perfectly timed left hand that sent Reyes to the canvas, and after a brief scramble she unleashed a flurry of hooks followed by a powerful right that forced the referee to halt the contest. Harper praised the victory, calling it one of the best performances of her career and expressing gratitude to MVP for the quick turnaround. American fighter Reina Tellez also impressed, edging out Jessica Barry in a tightly contested 96‑94 points decision.
Tellez, who stepped in on short notice to fight Amanda Serrano earlier in the year, displayed sharp hand speed and power, controlling the first four rounds with precise combinations. Although Barry rallied in the fifth with a solid upper‑cut, Tellez remained composed, even after a point deduction for a low blow in round six.
She rebounded with a crushing right hand in the eighth that left Barry visibly shaken, ultimately securing the win. Finally, Tysie Gallagher made a solid debut for MVP, earning a points victory over Chicago’s Brandi Robinson to improve her professional record to 11‑2. Gallagher admitted she was not entirely satisfied with her performance, acknowledging that she struggled to find her rhythm in the early stages, but she vowed to return stronger for her next bout. Overall, the evening in Birmingham showcased the depth of talent in women’s boxing, highlighted the fierce rivalries that drive the sport, and set the stage for future headline events.
Dubois’s dominant display, coupled with her fiery exchange with Baumgardner, suggests that a high‑stakes showdown may soon be on the horizon, offering fans a compelling narrative and an opportunity to witness two of the division’s best athletes compete at the highest level.