Caroline Dubois has set her sights on a definitive clash with American contender Alycia Baumgardner sometime next year, hoping to cement her status as the undisputed champion of the lightweight division. The upcoming bout that will determine Baumgardner's next opponent is already scheduled: she will travel to face Turkey’s Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world title on the early morning of Monday, 9 November, with the fight being broadcast live on Sky Sports. Dubois, who currently holds the WBC and WBO belts at 135 pounds, made it clear that she intends to meet the winner of the Turhan‑Baumgardner showdown in order to unify the division. However, she is not content to sit on the sidelines while the other champions battle it out.
Instead, she plans to add a third belt to her collection as soon as possible, with the WBA titleholder Stephanie Han now firmly on her radar. "My goal is to become the undisputed champion and to stay involved in the most relevant fights," Dubois told Sky Sports. "Unifying the division is the dream I’m chasing right now. The only other champion left is Han, and I’ll have to see whether I can secure that belt before the year ends.
If not, we’ll look at early next year." She added, "Ideally we’ll have a unified world champion by the end of this year or at the start of the next. I’m just one belt away from being undisputed." Dubois recently defended her two titles successfully, stopping Amelia Moore in Birmingham last month.
The victory was followed by a heated exchange of words with Baumgardner, which only intensified Dubois’s resolve to prove herself against the American fighter. "She’s definitely intimidated by me," Dubois said in a post‑fight interview. "She’s scared of what I bring to the table.
When she looks at me, she sees a younger, stronger, more talented version of herself, and everything I do seems better than hers. She feels threatened by that." She continued, "Everything she has worked so hard for, I have achieved in a much shorter time. She’s jealous, she’s feeling a lot of emotions. All I can say is I hope she stays focused, wins her fight against Turhan, and then we can finally see who truly is the best." Dubois also expressed a personal stake in Baumgardner’s upcoming fight, noting that she would be disappointed if the American failed to win, because a victory would set the stage for the showdown Dubois wants.
"I hope she wins the fight. I’ll be genuinely upset if she doesn’t because I need to prove something to her," Dubois said.
"Elif Turhan versus Alycia Baumgardner is going to be an incredible fight. I want the winner, and I’ve been very vocal about my desire to become undisputed." She added, "The path has become clear to me now. It’s so close, yet still just out of reach." The Turhan‑Baumgardner bout is expected to be a high‑octane encounter, with both fighters bringing distinct styles to the ring.
Turhan, the reigning champion, will be defending her IBF belt against a hungry challenger in Baumgardner, who has been on a rapid ascent in the lightweight ranks. The winner will not only claim the IBF title but also become the logical next opponent for Dubois, who is eager to add the IBF crown to her WBC and WBO belts.
If Baumgardner emerges victorious, the stage will be set for a potential unification showdown with Dubois later in the season or early the following year. In that scenario, Dubois would aim to capture the IBF belt, thereby holding three of the four major world titles in the division.
The final piece of the puzzle would be the WBA belt held by Stephanie Han. Dubois has already indicated that Han is her next target, suggesting that a triple‑champion bout could be on the horizon if the timing aligns. The lightweight division has been relatively fragmented in recent years, with multiple champions holding different belts and the lack of a clear, undisputed leader.
Fans and analysts alike have called for a unification series that would finally settle the debate over who truly belongs at the top. Dubois’s aggressive pursuit of the undisputed status reflects this broader desire within the sport for clarity and a singular champion.
Beyond the immediate titles, Dubois’s comments reveal a deeper psychological battle. She perceives Baumgardner’s confidence as fragile, describing it as a mixture of jealousy and fear. By publicly challenging Baumgardner and emphasizing her own rapid rise, Dubois is attempting to gain a mental edge before any potential in‑ring encounter. This mind‑games approach is not uncommon in boxing, where confidence and intimidation can play a significant role in a fighter’s performance.
The upcoming weeks will be crucial for both women. Baumgardner must focus on preparing for Turhan, ensuring she can execute a game plan that neutralizes the Turkish champion’s strengths while showcasing her own power and speed. Meanwhile, Dubois will likely be studying the Turhan‑Baumgardner matchup closely, looking for any weaknesses she can exploit should she secure a bout with the winner.
For fans eager to witness the Turhan versus Baumgardner clash, the fight will be available live on Sky Sports on 9 November. The broadcast promises high‑quality production and expert commentary, offering viewers an up‑close look at two of the division’s most promising talents.
Whether the fight ends with a decisive victory for Turhan or a surprise upset by Baumgardner, the outcome will set the tone for the next chapter in the lightweight unification saga. In summary, Caroline Dubois is positioning herself as the driving force behind a potential undisputed lightweight championship. By targeting both the IBF belt—through Baumgardner’s upcoming fight—and the WBA title held by Stephanie Han, she aims to collect three of the four major belts by the end of the year or early next year.
Her confidence, strategic mindset, and willingness to publicly call out rivals underscore her ambition to be recognized as the unequivocal champion of the division. The boxing world will be watching closely as the pieces fall into place, hoping for a historic unification bout that finally crowns a single, undisputed lightweight champion.