Caroline Dubois Aims for Undisputed Lightweight Champion Status

Caroline Dubois can already see the finish line. Undisputed at 135lbs. All the belts, all the arguments settled. And she’s in a hurry to get there.

The 23-year-old Londoner, already the unified WBC and WBO lightweight champion, is plotting a route that runs straight through Alycia Baumgardner – but not before she tries to rip another title from Stephanie Han.

A champion in a rush

Dubois is not content to sit and wait while the division rearranges itself. While Baumgardner prepares to move up and challenge Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight crown live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Monday, November 9, Dubois is pushing for her own piece of business.

Her target is clear: Han, the WBA champion, the only other belt-holder currently available.

"I want to become undisputed and I want to be involved in relevant fights. To unify the division is my dream right now," Dubois told Sky Sports. "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."

She wants momentum, not mothballs. Another camp, another belt, another statement.

"Hopefully we'll be unified world champion by the end of this year or early next. One belt away from becoming undisputed."

Birmingham win, Birmingham fire

Last month in Birmingham, Dubois handled her in-ring business first. She turned back the challenge of Amelia Moore to retain her WBC and WBO titles, ticking off another defence with the composure of a fighter growing into her status as champion.

The real sparks flew after the final bell.

Dubois and Baumgardner clashed in a heated verbal exchange, a preview of the rivalry that could yet define the lightweight division. No gloves, no judges, just words – and Dubois didn’t hold back.

"She's most definitely intimidated by me. She's frightened of what I bring to the table," Dubois said. "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."

There was no softening of the language, no attempt to massage the message. Dubois believes Baumgardner sees a storm coming – and that she’s the one bringing it.

"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."

All roads to Baumgardner

For Dubois, the path to undisputed now runs through two names: Han and the winner of Turhan vs Baumgardner. She wants both, and she wants them soon.

"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 said, making no secret of her preferred outcome on November 9.

"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."

There is no coyness about her ambition. No talk of “taking it one fight at a time.” She has mapped the route and circled the dates in her mind.

"The path has revealed itself to me. The path has become clear now... So close, but so far."

So the equation is simple. Beat Han, grab the WBA belt, then hunt down the IBF titleholder – whether that’s Turhan or, as Dubois clearly hopes, Baumgardner. One more belt to chase after that, one more night under the lights, and the undisputed crown she talks about so relentlessly stops being a dream and becomes a reality she intends to own.