Caroline Dubois did not hold back on Saturday night, publicly branding her American rival Alycia Baumgardner a coward after a tense exchange at ringside. The two fighters, who have been linked to a blockbuster showdown, found themselves in a heated verbal clash when Baumgardner approached Dubois following Dubois' unanimous decision victory over Amelia Moore in Birmingham. The confrontation began when Baumgardner, who is slated to move up to Dubois' lightweight division for her upcoming IBF title challenge against Elif Nur Turhan on November 8, stepped up to the ropes and tried to engage Dubois in a microphone tug‑of‑war.
The brief but intense exchange only added fuel to an already simmering rivalry between the transatlantic contenders. Dubois later took the microphone at her post‑fight press conference and did not mince words about Baumgardner's absence. "I’m surprised she isn’t here. I think she’s a coward," Dubois declared.
"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." The British champion’s remarks were captured on video, prompting the usual call for viewers to use a Chrome browser for optimal playback. Baumgardner, when asked about Dubois' accusations, dismissed her own performance as "lacklustre" and warned that Dubois would need to "tighten up" if she hoped to beat the former undisputed world champion. In the broader context of the 2026 boxing calendar, the potential Dubois‑Baumgardner clash is being billed as a marquee event. Streaming platforms such as NOW are promoting contract‑free boxing packages, while podcasts like Toe2Toe continue to dissect every development in the sport.
Highlight reels and fight analysis videos are also proliferating across social media, underscoring the growing public appetite for women's boxing. Dubois, however, did not limit her criticism to Baumgardner's recent comments. She questioned why Baumgardner had not yet secured high‑profile fights against established stars like Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields, arguing that she herself was already superior to those opponents at the age of 25. "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.
I think it will be a great fight, and I hope that she wins against Elif, but you never know. Maybe it’s Elif who wins, and it’ll be me and her facing off, so let’s not try to write off Elif." Dubois also hinted at another possible opponent: Stephanie Han. After defending her WBA lightweight title with a majority decision win over veteran Holly Holm, Dubois revealed that MVP co‑founder Nakisa Bidarian had flown her out earlier in the year to watch Han’s bout with 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 finalize contracts for a Dubois‑Baumgardner showdown as soon as the fighters are ready. "We’re 100 percent ready to go when they want to sign the contracts," Paul said, emphasizing that the promotional side is eager to capitalize on the buzz. The rivalry has also drawn comments from other prominent figures.
Former champion Claressa Shields accused Baumgardner of being "scared" of Dubois, a charge the American fighter rebuffed by labeling Shields as "jealous." Baumgardner responded, "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.
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." All eyes remain on the November 8 lightweight title bout between Baumgardner and Turhan, as the outcome will likely determine the timing and stakes of any future encounter with Dubois. If Baumgardner emerges victorious, the path to a historic clash with the British champion could be cleared, setting the stage for what promoters, fighters, and fans alike are already calling the biggest fight in women’s boxing history.
The narrative continues to evolve, with each interview, press conference, and social‑media post adding layers to an already compelling storyline. Whether the fight materializes next year or later, the rivalry between Dubois and Baumgardner has already reshaped the conversation around women’s boxing, highlighting the sport’s growing commercial appeal and the fierce competitive spirit of its top athletes.