Caroline Dubois has set her sights on a showdown that would crown her the undisputed champion of the lightweight division, with American contender Alycia Baumgardner positioned as the pivotal opponent in that quest. The upcoming bout on November 9, in which Baumgardner will travel to the United Kingdom to challenge Turkey’s Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world title, is being broadcast live on Sky Sports and is expected to serve as a decisive stepping stone toward a potential unification clash with Dubois. Dubois currently holds the WBC and WBO titles at 135 pounds, making her a unified champion already.
However, she has repeatedly expressed that she will not settle for anything less than holding every major belt in the division. In her view, the only remaining piece of the puzzle is the WBA belt, which is currently owned by Stephanie Han. Dubois told Sky Sports that she wants to "become undisputed and be involved in relevant fights," and that she hopes to secure Han’s title before the year ends.
If that proves impossible, she indicated that the fight could be pushed into early 2025. "My dream right now is to unify the division," Dubois said.
"The only other champion available is Han, and we’ll see if I can get that belt before the end of the year. If not, we’ll have to look at early next year. Hopefully we’ll be unified world champion by the end of this year or early next. I’m just one belt away from becoming undisputed." The British fighter’s confidence is backed by a recent successful defense of her titles against Amelia Moore in Birmingham, a bout she won convincingly.
That victory was immediately followed by a heated exchange of words with Baumgardner, who is set to fight Turhan for the IBF crown. Dubois did not shy away from expressing her belief that Baumgardner is intimidated by her. "She’s most definitely intimidated by me," Dubois asserted.
"She’s frightened of what I bring to the table. When she looks at me, I know she sees a younger, better, stronger, more talented, more everything version of herself. Everything I do is just better than hers. I feel like she’s threatened by that." Dubois went on to compare the trajectories of their careers, noting that while Baumgardner has worked hard for her achievements, Dubois has amassed comparable success 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," she said. Her remarks also hinted at a personal stake in Baumgardner’s upcoming fight.
"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," Dubois added, underscoring how much she wants to prove her superiority in the ring.
The upcoming Turhan‑Baumgardner clash is shaping up to be a high‑stakes encounter in its own right. Turhan, the reigning IBF champion, is known for her technical precision and stamina, while Baumgardner brings power and aggression.
Both fighters have expressed confidence that their bout will be an "awesome fight," and Dubois made it clear that she will be watching closely. "Elif Turhan versus Alycia Baumgardner is going to be an awesome fight. I want the winner. I’ve made it very clear that I want to become undisputed," Dubois said.
"The path has revealed itself to me. The path has become clear now… So close, but so far." If Baumgardner emerges victorious, she will hold the IBF belt, leaving Dubois with a clear target: a unification bout that would pit the WBC/WBO champion against the IBF champion.
Such a fight would likely be the final piece needed to crown an undisputed lightweight champion, a status that has been elusive in the division for several years. Conversely, if Turhan retains her title, the landscape shifts. Dubois would then have to consider whether to pursue a direct fight with Turhan or to first capture the WBA belt from Stephanie Han and then arrange a three‑way unification. Either scenario would keep the lightweight division in the spotlight and could lead to a historic showdown.
Beyond the immediate logistics, Dubois’s comments reveal a broader ambition to elevate women’s boxing. By striving for an undisputed title, she hopes to bring greater visibility and legitimacy to the sport, encouraging broadcasters, sponsors, and fans to invest more heavily in female fighters. In summary, Caroline Dubois is not content to rest on her current achievements. She wants every major belt, and she sees the upcoming Baumgardner‑Turhan fight as a pivotal moment that could bring her one step closer to that goal.
Whether she will have to wait until early next year or can clinch the final belt before the calendar turns depends on the outcome of that November 9 bout and the subsequent negotiations with Stephanie Han. The lightweight division is poised for an exciting climax, and fans worldwide will be watching closely as the path to undisputed supremacy unfolds.