Alycia Baumgardner says Caroline Dubois still has to do more to make a high-profile fight happen between them.
Baumgardner, who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF super-featherweight belts, is scheduled to defend those titles against Bo Mi Re Shin live on Sky Sports from 3am on Saturday. Dubois, coming off a win over Terri Harper that earned her the WBC and WBO lightweight crowns, publicly called for a showdown with Baumgardner after that victory.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Baumgardner stressed that while every fight is possible, Dubois needs to keep building as a champion before she will agree to the bout. Baumgardner said she has already put on big shows and done the work to reach undisputed status at 130lbs, and now Dubois must add credibility and commitment to make the fight commercially and competitively viable. She also suggested that talk of Dubois moving up to 147lbs makes a meeting less likely for now.
Promoters and insiders outlined other ways Dubois could sharpen her case. Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), told Sky Sports that Dubois should ‘clean up the division’ and take high-profile lightweight or catchweight fights to build toward an undisputed-level matchup. Bidarian pointed to natural next steps on the calendar, including fights like Stephanie Han vs Holly Holm on May 30, as opportunities for Dubois to grow her résumé and public profile.
Baumgardner herself could look to reclaim undisputed status at super-featherweight. WBC 130lb champion Caroline Veyre has signalled interest, and promoter Dmitriy Salita said he and Veyre are prepared to move quickly if Baumgardner remains successful, calling Veyre the most meaningful and natural opponent in the division.
MVP, launched by Bidarian and social-media figure Jake Paul, is building a deep women’s boxing stable — now said to include more than 45 fighters and 16 world champions — with the goal of raising the profile of women’s boxing. Bidarian described MVP’s mission as fighter-first, youth-focused and intent on filling a market gap for women’s boxing similar to how Ronda Rousey helped elevate women’s MMA. Paul’s involvement is presented as driven by an interest in younger audiences and the competitive appeal of women’s bouts.
The promotion’s plans include major matchups on big cards: the Madison Square Garden show on April 17 features a WBO and IBF super-middleweight unification between Shadasia Green and Lani Daniels, with the possibility of a winner-facing-Clarissa Shields scenario depending on the result — a fight MVP is reportedly interested in pursuing.
For now, Baumgardner remains focused on defending her titles and wants to see Dubois prove she is willing to invest in and promote a huge fight before she signs on. Watch Baumgardner vs Bo Mi Re Shin live on Sky Sports Action and Main Event from 3am on Saturday morning.