Caroline Dubois coasted to victory over Amelia Moore to defend her WBC and WBO lightweight titles and stay on course for a blockbuster meeting with unified super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner in 2027.
Dubois dominated the fight at BP Pulse Arenain Birmingham and knocked Moore down in the fifth round but was unable to find the decisive blow against the dogged American.
The British fighter won on unanimous judges’ decision, 99-90 99-90 98-91 ahead on the scorecards.
Dubois was heavy favourite for this fight and never looked less than in control, although her reliance on power and presence rather than speed ensured it went the distance to a long, inevitable conclusion.
She sent Moore to the canvas with a booming left in round five, but Moore got straight back up and was instead moved around the ring by Dubois like a cat playing with a mouse.
After the fight, Dubois had a war of words with the watching Baumgardner, who accused the Briton of “tightening up” and being “tired”.
In just her fifth professional fight, Moore – who has two American national championships from a respectable amateur career – showed admirable guts, but lacked the quality to trouble her foe.
It was clear that Dubois has boxed 70 more professional rounds than Moore, and she made light of being four inches shorter to avoid any danger.
Now it is anticipated that Dubois, now unbeaten in 15 professional fights with 14 wins, will face Baumgardner next year – should the American beat Elif Nur Turhan in November.
Dubois and Baumgardner – who both gave separate media conferences promoting their respective upcoming fights in Birmingham on Thursday – have been sniping at each other for a year.
And it continued ringside post-fight, with Baumgardner present for what she called a “scouting mission” on Dubois on Saturday night.
Dubois’ new MVP-curated personality – brash and self-confident – was on display as she called out Baumgardner for stepping into “my division – I am the best here”, in an expletive-infused exchange.
She has also made changes outside ring, including a shock decision to switch trainer.
Dubois dropped Shane McGuigan in London, who helped guide her to two world titles in the lightweight division, and has opted to make the move to Los Angeles to work with renowned US trainer Manny Robles as she aims to take her career to the next level.
Baumgardner has said she “absolutely” wants to fight Dubois, and if the 32-year-old successfully steps up to lightweight and beats IBF champion Turhan in Texas on 8 November, then they should headline another MVP showcase of women’s boxing.
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