Caroline Dubois has set her sights on an undisputed clash with American contender Alycia Baumgardner sometime next year, and she is determined not to linger on the sidelines while the division’s titles are being contested. The British fighter, who currently holds the unified WBC and WBO lightweight crowns at 135 pounds, says she will pursue the remaining belts as soon as the opportunity arises, with a particular focus on the WBA title held by Stephanie Han.
Baumgardner, meanwhile, is scheduled to step into the ring against Turkey’s Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world championship. That bout will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Monday, 9 November, and it is being billed as a pivotal moment for the lightweight division.
Dubois explained to Sky Sports that she wants to be part of the fight that ultimately decides who will wear the undisputed mantle, but she also wants to add another belt to her own collection before that final unification takes place. "I want to become undisputed and I want to be involved in relevant fights.
To unify the division is my dream right now. The only other champion [available] is Han and we'll just have to see if I can get it in before the end of the year.
If not we'll have to go early next year," Dubois told the broadcaster. "Hopefully we'll be unified world champion by the end of this year or early next.
One belt away from becoming undisputed." The British champion has already proven her ability to defend her titles under pressure. In March she traveled to Birmingham and delivered a convincing performance against Amelia Moore, retaining her WBC and WBO belts in a fight that showcased her speed, power, and ring intelligence. Immediately after that victory, Dubois entered a heated verbal exchange with Baumgardner, accusing the American of feeling threatened by her rapid rise.
"She's most definitely intimidated by me. She's frightened of what I bring to the table. When she looks at me I know that she sees a younger, better, stronger, more talented, more everything better than her.
Everything I do is just better than her. I feel like she's threatened by that," Dubois said in a post‑fight interview. She went on to argue that Baumgardner’s achievements have come more slowly, whereas Dubois has amassed world titles in a relatively short period.
"Everything that she has had to work so hard to get I've had it and I've achieved it in such quick succession. She's threatened, she's jealous.
She's feeling a lot of emotions and all I can say is I hope she can focus herself, get that win [over Turhan] and we can find out who's the best," Dubois added. Dubois made it clear that she would be disappointed if Baumgardner failed to win her bout against Turhan, because a victory would set up the final piece of the puzzle for an undisputed lightweight champion.
"I hope she wins the fight. I'm going to be real upset if she doesn't win because I need to show her something," she explained. "Elif Turhan, the champion, versus Alycia Baumgardner, the contender, is going to be an awesome fight.
I want the winner. I've made it very clear. I feel like I have been very vocal about the fact that I want to become undisputed." The path to undisputed status, according to Dubois, has become clearer in recent weeks.
"The path has revealed itself to me. The path has become clear now... So close, but so far," she said, acknowledging the distance she still must travel to claim every major belt in the division.
Looking ahead, Dubois is already planning her next move. After securing the WBC and WBO titles, her logical target is the WBA belt, which is currently held by Stephanie Han. Han, a seasoned fighter with a reputation for technical skill and resilience, represents the final obstacle standing between Dubois and full unification.
Dubois hinted that she hopes to arrange that fight before the calendar flips to the new year, but she also left open the possibility of a January or February showdown if negotiations take longer. The lightweight division has been in flux for the past twelve months, with several champions emerging across the four major sanctioning bodies – WBC, WBO, IBF, and WBA. Fans and analysts alike have been calling for an undisputed champion to bring clarity and excitement to the weight class. Dubois’s ambition aligns perfectly with that demand, and her confidence in the ring has been matched by her willingness to speak openly about her opponents.
While Baumgardner prepares for her title fight against Turhan, she too has expressed a desire to cement her place among the elite. The Turkish champion, known for her aggressive style and powerful left hook, will be looking to defend her IBF crown on a high‑profile Sky Sports platform. A win for Baumgardner would not only boost her own standing but also set up a potential clash with Dubois that could become a historic moment for women’s boxing. In the broader context, the sport is seeing increased visibility and investment, particularly in women’s divisions.
Broadcast deals, sponsorships, and growing fan bases are creating an environment where an undisputed lightweight champion could become a marquee name worldwide. Dubois’s pursuit of that status is therefore more than a personal goal; it is part of a larger narrative about the evolution of the sport.
Dubois’s statements also reveal a psychological edge. By labeling Baumgardner as "jealous" and "intimidated," she is attempting to get inside her opponent’s head, a tactic often employed by elite athletes to gain a mental advantage before a fight.
Whether those remarks will affect Baumgardner’s preparation remains to be seen, but they certainly add intrigue to the upcoming IBF title bout. Fans can watch the Turhan‑Baumgardner contest live on Sky Sports on 9 November. The result will likely shape the next steps for Dubois, who will be watching closely and ready to negotiate a fight with the victor as soon as the dust settles.
If Baumgardner emerges victorious, Dubois may issue a direct challenge, positioning herself as the final piece needed to unify the lightweight division. If Turhan retains her belt, Dubois could still target her, though the dynamics would shift given Turhan’s existing champion status.
Regardless of the outcome, Dubois’s determination to become the undisputed lightweight champion is unmistakable. She has already demonstrated the skill, work ethic, and confidence required to hold multiple belts simultaneously. Now, with one more championship within reach, she is poised to chase the final prize that will place her among the sport’s all‑time greats. The upcoming weeks promise high‑stakes drama, and the lightweight division may finally see a single fighter wear all four major belts.
Whether that champion will be Caroline Dubois, Stephanie Han, or another rising star, the pursuit itself is already energizing fans worldwide and underscoring the growing prominence of women’s boxing on the global stage.