TLDR
- Alycia Baumgardner dominated Elif Nur Turhan with a unanimous decision win to claim the IBF lightweight championship
- Caroline Dubois confronted Baumgardner ringside after the fight, calling for an undisputed title bout at London’s O2 Arena in 2027
- Dubois said she wants both fighters to receive proper pay for the potential mega-fight
- Before any Baumgardner bout, Dubois must face Stephanie Han on February 20 in El Paso for three lightweight titles
- Baumgardner now holds titles in two weight classes, having previously been undisputed at super-featherweight
Sources: middleeasy.com | skysports.com | independent.co.uk
Caroline Dubois interrupted Alycia Baumgardner’s post-fight interview on Sunday night, calling out the American champion for a unification fight in London. The confrontation came moments after Baumgardner dominated Elif Nur Turhan to win the IBF lightweight title in Arlington, Texas.
All three judges scored the fight 100-90 in favor of Baumgardner, who controlled all 10 rounds. The victory gave her the IBF championship at lightweight while she continues to hold the WBA, IBF and WBO super-featherweight titles.
Caroline Dubois calls for a unification bout with Alycia Baumgardner after her win Sunday night 👀 pic.twitter.com/XkO0c2az1H
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) November 9, 2026
Dubois spoke to Baumgardner from ringside using the microphone, reversing a similar scene from August when Baumgardner crashed Dubois’s interview after she beat Amelia Moore. The British fighter made clear she wants the fight to happen at London’s O2 Arena.
Pay and Respect Drive Dubois’s Challenge
In a BBC Sport column published before Baumgardner’s fight, Dubois laid out her vision for the showdown. She said she wants both fighters to receive proper compensation for what would be a major event.
“I understand why Baumgardner wants to get paid properly for fighting me,” Dubois wrote. “I want exactly the same thing.”
Dubois said the 2022 Claressa Shields-Savannah Marshall fight at the O2 inspired her dream of a homecoming undisputed title fight. She expressed respect for Baumgardner’s achievements and promotional skills while predicting she would stop her.
On social media the next day, Dubois posted that Baumgardner had not answered her challenge. “She ain’t answer the question tho,” Dubois wrote on X at 05:08 UTC on November 9.
Han Fight Stands Between Dubois and Baumgardner
Before any potential Baumgardner fight can happen, Dubois must get past Stephanie Han on February 20. The unification bout will take place at GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
Dubois holds the WBC and WBO lightweight titles with a record of 14-0-1 and five knockouts. Han is the WBA champion with a perfect 13-0 record and three knockouts.
Han won the vacant WBA championship with a first-round stoppage of Hannah Terlep in February 2025. She has made three successful defenses, including two victories over former UFC champion Holly Holm.
The El Paso fight will be Han’s hometown defense. Sky Sports will broadcast the event live in UK prime time, with public ticket sales starting December 3 at 10 a.m. Mountain Time.
Dubois won her WBC and WBO belts by defeating Terri Harper in April. She defended them against Amelia Moore in August before setting her sights on unifying all the major titles.
Baumgardner’s move to lightweight adds a second weight class to her championship resume. She completed an undisputed run at super-featherweight with a victory over Elhem Mekhaled in February 2023 and defended those titles against Bo Mi Re Shin in April before moving up.
Nur Turhan lost her IBF title and unbeaten record with the loss to Baumgardner. The Turkish fighter had entered the bout as one of the division’s undefeated champions.
Neither Dubois nor Baumgardner’s teams have announced a contract or specific date for the London fight. The February bout with Han remains Dubois’s confirmed next step.
