Caroline Dubois sailed through a resilient Amelia Moore on Saturday night, then found herself locked in a war of words with fellow contender Alycia Baumgardner at ringside, setting the stage for a potential blockbuster showdown between the two. The London‑born champion displayed little vulnerability throughout the co‑main event of MVPW‑06 in Birmingham, earning a unanimous decision on the judges' scorecards—99‑90, 99‑90 and 98‑91—to retain both her WBC and WBO lightweight crowns. Dubois opened the bout with a burst of aggression, peppering Moore with a rapid series of body blows that forced the American to retreat and fight on the back foot.
Despite Moore's longer reach, the champion quickly established her preferred distance, slipping inside and landing a crisp overhand right at the end of the second round that signaled her intent to dominate the fight. Throughout rounds three and four, Dubois continued to dictate the tempo, targeting Moore's torso with precise combinations while the challenger struggled to find a clear opening against the British fighter's swift footwork. The turning point arrived in the fifth round when Dubois slipped a clean right hook that caused Moore to lose her balance, resulting in a knockdown. While the fall appeared more a product of the American's momentary loss of footing than sheer punching power, Dubois seized the opportunity, launching a ferocious follow‑up that included a sharp right hook and a series of probing jabs.
By the seventh round she had broken through Moore's guard with a snapping straight left, followed by a succession of hooks that left the opponent visibly shaken. Blood began to seep from Moore's nose in the eighth round, a clear sign that Dubois' dominance was far from waning. The challenger attempted a late surge in the ninth, pressing forward with a flurry of punches, but the champion's superior positioning and timing neutralised the effort. In the final round Moore suffered a cut from an accidental head clash, yet she fought on, demonstrating the heart that has defined her career.
When the final bell rang, the judges' cards reflected Dubois' control: two scores of 99‑90 and one of 98‑91, confirming her status as the undisputed lightweight champion. Immediately after the decision, the atmosphere shifted from athletic competition to verbal sparring as Baumgardner, a former undisputed champion who will step into the lightweight division for her upcoming bout with Elif Nur Turhan on November 8, approached the ring. Baumgardner has been a vocal presence throughout the Birmingham weekend, questioning Dubois' readiness and demanding a showdown. During her press conference she dismissed Dubois' performance as "lacklustre" and urged the younger fighter to "tighten up" and "stop being tired." In response, Dubois fired back with a confident tirade, reminding Baumgardner of her own past challenges and asserting her superiority: "I've been calling for this for a long time.
After the last fight I said move up and fight that bum? What's happened to Amanda Serrano? What happened to Katie Taylor? What happened to Claressa Shields?
You haven't got anything you've asked for. I got what I asked for.
You are moving up to my division. I'm the best in the division and you know it. I'm 25 and I'm better than you." Dubois continued, "If you get through Elif Nur Turhan, me and you there's no denying it. Everything I've asked for has happened.
I'm knocking this bum out, you'd better believe it." The exchange underscored the growing narrative of a potential clash between two of the sport's most outspoken lightweight stars. Beyond the headline bout, the event featured several noteworthy performances.
Terri Harper, returning to the ring after a loss to Dubois in April, delivered 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 barrage of hooks and a crushing right that forced the referee to halt the contest. "One of the best performances of my career," Harper told Sky Sports, adding that the quick turnaround demonstrated her readiness to climb back toward title contention. In another exciting encounter, American Reina Tellez out‑pointed Jessica Barry in a tightly contested 96‑94 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 clean, accurate shots. Although Barry rallied in the fifth with a solid upper‑cut, Tellez maintained composure, even after a point deduction for a low blow in round six. She finished strong, landing a devastating right hand in the eighth that left Barry reeling. Post‑fight, Tellez reflected on a slight ring rust but praised the experience gained and the platform provided by MVP.
The night also saw Tysie Gallagher make a solid MVP debut, earning a points win over Chicago's Brandi Robinson to improve to 11‑2 as a professional. Gallagher admitted she was not entirely satisfied with her performance, noting a sluggish start, but pledged to return stronger in future outings. Overall, the Birmingham card offered a blend of decisive victories, emerging storylines, and heated verbal exchanges that promise to shape the lightweight landscape in 2026.
With Dubois cementing her dominance, Baumgardner positioning herself as a vocal challenger, and a host of rising talents showcasing their skills, fans can anticipate a series of high‑stakes match‑ups as the year progresses. The next few months will likely see the lightweight division coalesce around a few marquee fights, including the looming Dubois‑Baumgardner showdown, which could become one of the sport's most talked‑about events if both fighters continue on their current trajectories.