Caroline Dubois is setting her sights on a full‑unification bout with American contender Alycia Baumgardner sometime next year, after the two fighters are expected to cross paths in the lightweight division. Baumgardner is slated to travel to the UK to challenge Turkey’s Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world championship, a fight that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Monday, November 9. Dubois, who currently holds the WBC and WBO titles at 135 pounds, has made it clear that she intends to face the victor of that encounter in order to claim the undisputed crown, but she refuses to sit idle while waiting for the outcome.
Instead, Dubois is actively pursuing another belt to bring her total to three, targeting the WBA champion Stephanie Han as her next opponent. "My goal is to become the undisputed champion and I want to stay involved in the biggest, most relevant fights in the division," Dubois told Sky Sports.
"Unifying the lightweight division is my dream right now. The only other champion left is Han, and we’ll see if I can make that fight happen before the year ends. If not, we’ll have to look at early next year." She added, "Ideally we’ll have a unified world champion by the end of this year or at the latest early next year. I’m just one belt away from being undisputed." Dubois recently completed a successful defense of her WBC and WBO titles, defeating Amelia Moore in Birmingham last month.
The victory was followed by a sharp exchange of words with Baumgardner, who Dubois accused of feeling threatened by her rapid rise. "She’s definitely intimidated by me," Dubois said. "She can see that I’m younger, stronger, more talented, and everything she does, I can do better.
She’s scared of what I bring to the ring, and I think she’s jealous of the speed at which I’ve achieved what she’s worked so hard for over many years." Dubois continued, "She’s feeling a lot of emotions, and all I can say is I hope she focuses on her fight with Turhan, wins it, and then we can finally settle who the best is." The British champion emphasized that she would be genuinely disappointed if Baumgardner lost, because she wants to prove a point. "I’ll be upset if she doesn’t win because I need to show her something," Dubois explained.
"The Turhan‑Baumgardner fight is going to be a spectacular contest, and I want the winner. I’ve been very vocal about my desire to become undisputed.
The path is becoming clearer now – it’s close, but still a little far away." The upcoming Turhan vs. Baumgardner clash is expected to be a high‑stakes encounter, with both fighters looking to secure a place in the next round of unification. Turhan, the reigning IBF champion, has built a reputation for technical precision and resilience, while Baumgardner is known for her aggressive pressure and knockout power. Their bout on November 9 will be a crucial stepping stone for anyone hoping to claim the undisputed title, and Dubois is watching closely.
If Baumgardner emerges victorious, Dubois has already signaled that she will move quickly to arrange a showdown, likely targeting a fight in the first quarter of the following year. Conversely, should Turhan retain her belt, Dubois may still pursue a unification bout, as she has expressed willingness to travel and negotiate with any champion willing to meet her in the ring. Her ambition is not limited to a single opponent; she has indicated that she wants to fight the best available talent, whether that means traveling to the United States, Turkey, or any other location where the title is held.
Dubois’s recent comments also reveal a psychological edge she believes she holds over Baumgardner. By publicly questioning Baumgardner’s confidence and labeling her as “jealous,” Dubois aims to get inside her opponent’s head before they ever meet in the ring.
This mind‑games approach is common in boxing, where mental toughness can be as decisive as physical skill. Dubois’s confidence is bolstered by her recent performance against Moore, where she showcased a blend of speed, power, and tactical acumen that left little doubt about her status as a top‑tier lightweight. Looking ahead, the lightweight division is poised for a transformative period. With the WBC, WBO, IBF, and WBA titles currently held by four different fighters, the path to undisputed status is riddled with logistical challenges, mandatory defenses, and promotional negotiations.
Dubois’s strategy appears to be to secure the WBA belt from Han as soon as possible, then set up a final unification bout with the winner of Turhan vs. Baumgardner. This would effectively consolidate all four major sanctioning bodies under a single champion, a feat that has been achieved only a handful of times in modern boxing history.
In summary, Caroline Dubois is not merely waiting for the cards to fall; she is actively constructing a roadmap toward undisputed glory. She has already defended her titles, engaged in a war of words with a potential rival, and laid out a clear timeline for her next moves.
Whether she will capture the WBA belt from Stephanie Han, then face either Turhan or Baumgardner, remains to be seen, but her determination and confidence suggest that she will stop at nothing to become the sole recognized champion of the lightweight division. The boxing world will be watching closely as the November 9 fight unfolds, and as Dubois continues to chase the ultimate prize of undisputed status.