Caroline Dubois: The Future Is Now?

Caroline Dubois: The Future Is Now?

The fight that she has craved has now finally arrived for Caroline Dubois. The long chase to fight Terri Harper is now only hours away. A much-anticipated world lightweight title unification showdown between two British fighters. Headlining an all-female main card live on Sky Sports.

Dubois and Harper have traded verbals for the duration of the long build-up and will now trade blows at the Olympia on Sunday night. A grand old London building that has been given a modern-day makeover, similar to what Jake Paul and his Most Valuable Promotions are doing for women’s boxing. It’s their first-ever UK show. It’s some start. Dubois and Harper will close the night. Dubois hopes she will close out her rivalry with Harper in style. The odds suggest that she will do exactly that.

The words have been venomous. Harper has done her best. She has even found an edge of her own. A little exchange of elbows. Trying not to let Dubois have the feel of intimidation. But it’s not really her style. It’s been mostly one-sided. At the February press conference, it was a touch uncomfortable. Dubois loves to talk. Loves to promote the show. And herself. There is nothing wrong with that. In truth, she is incredibly good at it.

Dubois has the look of a superstar. The WBC lightweight champion is unbeaten. Only once has she looked vulnerable. Bo Mi Re Shin had her rocking a little last March at the Royal Albert. For eight rounds, Dubois dominated. But a lingering virus played a part as Dubois faded badly over the final four minutes. Harper, the WBO bauble holder, sees that as a potential opening for her. A suspect gas tank. Harper is clinging to that belief. It might be her only chance of victory.

Caroline Dubois is the perceived superstar. The A-side. The fighter who is talking up fights with the likes of Alycia Baumgardner and Mikaela Mayer. Harper is almost criminally being written off by most pundits. A little unfair, but Dubois is the overwhelming betting favourite to unify her division. Most don’t expect Harper to trouble the judges.

Dubois could be challenging to be the best female fighter on the planet in the next few years. An almost unlimited ceiling matched by her unlimited ambitions. But before any talk of sharing a ring with the likes of Baumgardner and Mayer, Dubois must get past Harper.

The Denaby fighter has impressed me in fight week. Harper often has a fragile look about her. Not this week. The 29-year-old has looked confident. Impressively so. Harper has the look of a fighter who fancies it. She has pedigree. You don’t become a three-division world champion if you don’t have something in your locker. But despite her impressive resume, she is up against it on Sunday night.

At 25, Dubois is heading into her peak years. A fighter who is ready to take her career to the next level. Dubois should win. As I’ve written elsewhere, it might be a little easier than some might think. How Caroline Dubois wins will tell us plenty about just how golden the future will be.

Photo Credit: Most Valuable Promotions