Caroline Dubois: The Road To Undisputed

Caroline Dubois: The Road To Undisputed

In many ways, it is a new beginning for Caroline Dubois on Saturday night. Shane McGuigan won’t be in her corner when she defends her WBC and WBO world lightweight titles against the American Amelia Moore on Saturday night in Birmingham. An amicable parting of the ways from her long-time trainer. Dubois moved her training base to America and is now under the tutelage of Manny Robles. The search for perfection is a time-honoured tradition in boxing. Time will tell if Dubois has made the right move. A different voice isn’t always the right voice.

The 25-year-old is approaching the next phase of her career. The road to undisputed is getting a little clearer. A little closer. Dubois, now in that ever-increasing MVP roster of elite female talent, and every other 135-pound champion is there as well. Elif Nur Turhan, the IBF world lightweight champion, recently made the move, and with Stephanie Han, the WBA champion, also aligned with Jake Paul’s promotional powerhouse, unification fights are almost certainly in her immediate future. Potentially, against the one fighter she seems destined to meet.

Alycia Baumgardner will finally leave the super-featherweight ranks behind in November to challenge the big-punching Turhan for her WBA title. Baumgardner and Dubois have traded heated verbal blows in recent times. If Baumgardner beats Turhan, a massive fight between Dubois and Baumgardner moves significantly closer. Both need that fight for different reasons.

But before Dubois (13-0-1) even thinks of what lies ahead, Amelia Moore should be her primary focus. The 36-year-old American brings a wealth of amateur experience, but her pro resume consists of just four fights against pretty modest opposition. Moore (4-0) deserves credit for taking the fight, but it looks to be far too soon for her. In truth, regardless of that limited professional experience, Dubois just looks far too much her. Moore will be game, but ultimately, Dubois will beat her, and likely stop her.

If the fight does go the way the odds suggest, Dubois will be one step closer to those legacy fights that could end with her being crowned the undisputed lightweight champion of the world in 2027. With the impending retirements of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, women’s boxing will have a couple of vacancies at the top of the pound-for-pound list. Dubois will undoubtedly be in prime position for that. But the unbeaten British fighter wants even more than that. Undisputed and superstar status could be hers this time next year.