Women’s boxing is currently navigating a fascinating transitional period. Following the monumental success of groundbreaking clashes like Katie Taylor against Amanda Serrano and Claressa Shields against Savannah Marshall—occasions that permanently altered the landscape and profile of the sport—the discipline finds itself searching for its next definitive rivalry and its next defining superstar.
According to Britain’s unified lightweight world champion Caroline Dubois, that vacuum is waiting to be filled, and she believes the answer lies directly across the ring from her in the form of American star Alycia Baumgardner.
Writing in her exclusive BBC Sport column, Dubois has broken down the current landscape of the division as Baumgardner prepares to defend her status and face Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world title. While Dubois respects the formidable obstacles standing in the immediate future, she is casting her gaze firmly toward a high-stakes blockbuster in 2027 that she believes could eclipse everything the sport has seen before.
As the current WBC and WBO lightweight world champion, Dubois holds immense leverage and undisputed ambitions. Yet, she recognizes that achieving true immortality in the sport requires engaging in defining, legacy-shaping contests against elite opponents. Baumgardner, one of the most recognizable and accomplished names in the female boxing ecosystem, fits that criteria perfectly. Furthermore, with simmering tension already established between the two camps, the ingredients for a generational rivalry are already bubbling beneath the surface.
The Anatomy of a Mega-Fight and the Road from Miami
The friction between Dubois and Baumgardner is not entirely hypothetical; it has already spilled over into real-world encounters. Last year, the two fighters exchanged sharp words during a chance meeting in Miami, an interaction that saw Baumgardner dismiss her British rival with the label of a "puppy."
Rather than being deterred or intimidated by the remark, Dubois views the verbal jab as a symptom of a deeper psychological dynamic. She argues that the hesitation to finalize a deal for them to face one another stems not from a lack of commercial viability, but from genuine apprehension on Baumgardner’s side regarding what will happen once the opening bell rings.
Dubois maintains absolute confidence in her abilities, boldly predicting that when the two eventually share a ring, she will secure a stoppage victory. In her assessment, she represents the single most dangerous, difficult, and high-risk challenge in Baumgardner’s career path.
Yet, beneath the competitive bravado and trash talk, there is a clear foundation of professional respect. Dubois is acutely aware of the systemic challenges inherent in women’s professional boxing—struggles relating to promotional backing, television airtime, and equitable compensation. She acknowledges the tireless graft Baumgardner has put in alongside other trailblazers like Claressa Shields to elevate her profile and secure financial stability within the sport. Dubois has actively studied how these established names market themselves, using those lessons to shape her own trajectory as a 25-year-old champion who still views herself as a developing student of the noble art.
Both fighters demand and deserve elite compensation for a matchup of this magnitude. Because the stakes are stratospheric and the competitive risk is mutual, Dubois insists that the bout must be staged on the grandest possible platform with the highest possible reward.
Her ultimate vision for the collision is to headline London’s iconic O2 Arena—a venue deeply familiar to the British champion. Dubois fought on the undercard of the historic 2022 event where Claressa Shields defeated Savannah Marshall, an unforgettable evening defined by a deafening, electric crowd that erupted as the main event combatants made their walks to the ring. Imagining a scenario where she and Baumgardner take top billing with all four lightweight world titles hanging in the balance, Dubois is convinced the atmosphere and commercial impact could surpass even Shields versus Marshall.
Analyzing the Immediate Obstacle: Baumgardner versus Turhan
Before any dreams of a domestic mega-fight at the O2 Arena can materialize, Baumgardner must successfully navigate a major test on Sunday, 8 November, when she challenges Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight world title.
Dubois will be seated ringside in the arena, observing every tactical nuance and physical exchange as it unfolds, ready to step forward and call out the victor once the dust settles.
However, an upset is well within the realm of possibility. If Baumgardner stumbles against Turhan, Dubois warns that the narrative of their rivalry will not necessarily be dead on arrival. In boxing, greatness is rarely defined by an unblemished zero, but rather by how a fighter responds to adversity. Legendary figures such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, and Thomas Hearns all endured defeats on their paths to immortality. Closer to home, Dubois holds profound admiration for Mikaela Mayer, a fighter who has experienced defeat, successfully rebuilt her career, and consistently chosen to test herself against the absolute best the sport has to offer.
Even so, Dubois’s immediate north star is the capture of undisputed status. If Turhan pulls off the upset and wrests the IBF crown away from Baumgardner, the Turkish contender will immediately become the primary target on Dubois’s radar.
Turhan’s sudden ascension to the upper echelons of the sport sent shockwaves through the division when she secured a stunning stoppage victory over Beatriz Ferreira. While Dubois notes that Turhan has arguably not replicated that exact level of scintillating dominance in her subsequent outings, the challenger remains a formidable threat. Turhan is characterized as heavy-handed, aggressive, and exceptionally dangerous during the early stanzas of a contest.
If Turhan manages to catch Baumgardner cold in the opening rounds, Dubois believes the challenger possesses the concussive power to alter the course of the fight permanently. Conversely, if Baumgardner can successfully deploy her jab, dictate the distance, make her opponent miss, and continuously pivot away from danger, it could transform into a long, grueling evening for the challenger.
A critical x-factor in the matchup will be the championship distance format. The fighters are scheduled to compete in three-minute rounds—a rigorous tempo and duration that Turhan has not frequently encountered throughout her career. Dubois anticipates that if Baumgardner can drag the fight into the deeper rounds and force a high work rate, Turhan’s energy levels could wane significantly.
Technically speaking, Baumgardner enters the ring as the more polished and refined boxer. If she can weather the early storm and survive the initial onslaught, Dubois expects the champion to assert her authority and take firm control of the bout’s momentum.
The Broader Horizon and Looking Ahead to 2027
As the boxing world turns its attention toward the opening bell on 8 November, Caroline Dubois remains focused on the variables she can control. She will watch the championship clash unfold with clinical detachment, prepared to react authentically should the opportunity arise to make her intentions clear inside the squared circle. Dubois prides herself on spontaneity, noting that she does not rely on scripted moments or pre-planned promotional stunts; if the instinct moves her to step through the ropes and deliver a message directly to the winner, she will not hesitate to act.
Yet, amidst the grand plotting of future showdowns and divisional takeovers, Dubois remains grounded in the present. She recognizes that she has her own professional obligations and hurdles to clear, including her impending assignment against Han.
Once both fighters clear their respective hurdles, the stage will be set to negotiate one of the most anticipated and lucrative matchups in the modern history of women’s boxing. By blending mutual respect with legitimate athletic animosity, Dubois and Baumgardner possess the rare combination of styles, personalities, and competitive drive required to capture the global sporting imagination. If the pieces fall into place, the combat sports world could be treated to a defining chapter in the sport’s history come 2027.
