Caroline Dubois delivered a scathing assessment of Alycia Baumgardner's character following an explosive confrontation at ringside on Saturday night, intensifying what has become one of women's boxing's most compelling rivalries.
The pair clashed immediately after Dubois secured a unanimous decision victory over Amelia Moore on the MVPW-06 card at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, on the undercard of Mikaela Mayer versus Chantelle Cameron. Baumgardner, watching from ringside, approached Dubois at the ropes, leading to a tug of war over the microphone and a fierce verbal exchange that has only deepened their growing feud.
The tension escalated further when Dubois took aim at Baumgardner during her post-fight press conference, where the American's absence became a focal point of her criticism.
I'm surprised she isn't there. I think she's a coward. I wish she was here so I could say it to her face. I really do. I think she's a coward because she isn't here today. She should have come to the press conference. This is the biggest fight in women's boxing.
Baumgardner had publicly urged Dubois to "do her part" by winning her Birmingham fight so their matchup could stay on track for 2027, but her decision to skip the press conference drew Dubois's ire.
The American fighter responded by dismissing Dubois's performance as
lacklustreand insisted the British champion would need to
tighten upif she hoped to have any chance of defeating the former undisputed world champion.
Dubois struck back by highlighting Baumgardner's failure to secure high-profile bouts against Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields, while asserting her own superiority at just 25 years old.
She's tried as hard as she can to dismiss me and make it seem like I'm not on her level, but I am. I'm the world champion, and she's moving up to my division. Yeah, I think this is the biggest fight in women's boxing.
The feud has been simmering since at least April, when Baumgardner called the prospective bout a "lateral move" for her career, dismissing Dubois's credentials. That dismissal has only fuelled Dubois's determination to prove herself.
I think it will be a great fight, and I hope that she wins against Elif [Nur Turhan], but you never know. Maybe it's Elif who wins, and it'll be me and her facing off, so let's not try and write off Elif.
Baumgardner is scheduled to move up a division to face undefeated Elif Nur Turhan for the IBF lightweight title on November 8, a bout that will determine whether the Dubois showdown materialises as planned. The outcome of that fight could reshape the landscape of women's lightweight boxing.
Beyond Baumgardner, Dubois has identified other potential opponents. Stephanie Han, who recently retained her WBA lightweight title in a majority decision win over Holly Holm, has emerged as another possible option for the British champion.
Nakisa [MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian] flew me out earlier this year to watch Stephanie fight against Holly Holm. I went to the press conference afterwards. I wasn't afraid to come to the press conference. I called her out openly there and then, and she promised me we would do it, that it is a fight that's going to happen, and I intend to hold her to that. I want to fight Stephanie.
MVP founder Jake Paul weighed in on the Dubois-Baumgardner saga, signalling his company's readiness to facilitate the clash.
We are 100 per cent ready to go when they want to sign the contracts.
Paul added that he expects the fight to materialise once Baumgardner clears her November hurdle, dismissing suggestions that either fighter is avoiding the other.
I think it's funny when fans or critics say certain people are scared of somebody - they aren't scared, it's what they do for a living.
Shields fuels the fire
The rivalry has gained additional momentum from outside voices. Claressa Shields recently accused Baumgardner of being
scaredof Dubois, a charge Baumgardner rejected by calling her counterpart
jealous. Shields has positioned herself as a vocal supporter of Dubois, even naming the British fighter as boxing's next GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All Time), adding significant prestige to Dubois's standing in the sport.
The intensity of the verbal exchanges suggests that when these two finally meet in the ring, the personal animosity will add another layer to what is already shaping up to be a compelling technical matchup between two of the division's elite talents.
What comes next
The immediate focus now shifts to Baumgardner's November 8 showdown with Turhan. Should the American prevail, all signs point toward a unification clash with Dubois that could define women's lightweight boxing for years to come. If Turhan emerges victorious, the landscape would shift dramatically, potentially opening the door for Dubois to pursue other high-profile opponents or face the undefeated Turkish challenger herself.
