Caroline Dubois believes the time has come for Katie Taylor to vacate at least one of her lightweight world titles with the rising star of women’s boxing fearing her division has become a closed shop for new challengers.
Dubois, 22, has enjoyed a rapid ascent through the women’s ranks and will challenge Magali Rodriguez for the IBO world title at York Hall on Saturday. While somewhat less regarded than boxing’s other major belts, it represents the only world honour available to her with all the other gold at 135lbs in Taylor’s possession.
The Bray fighter has ruled as undisputed queen of the lightweight division since 2019, a fighting champion having defended her IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA and Ring Magazine titles seven times in that time – including a career-best win over Amanda Serrano in New York in May 2022.
This year, her focus has turned to becoming a two-weight undisputed champion against super-lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron. Taylor was soundly beaten by the English fighter in Dublin in May with a rematch in the Irish capital set for November with Cameron’s belts once again on the line.
While Taylor is chasing redemption, it has left Dubois to ponder the immediate future of her division.
‘The division is being held up,’ Dubois told Metro.co.uk. ‘That is because the woman at the top has been the queen there for so long that I think the organisations are giving her a lot of leeway.
‘Everything is dependent on what she wants to do. Whether that is right or wrong, I suppose she deserves it to some extent. Girls like Katie, she has been champion for so long, everyone is just waiting to see what she is going to do next.’
Taylor’s last lightweight title defence was against mandatory challenger Karen Elizabeth Carabajal in October 2022. While the Irish fighter has earned some flexibility with boxing’s sanctioning bodies, Dubois believes it is now time for some difficult conversations to take place, for the sake of her own world title ambitions.
‘The next step will be pushing and putting pressure on one of the organisations at least to vacate,’ she said. ‘Josh Taylor [former undisputed super-lightweight champion] had to do it, other champions have had to it.
‘You can’t just have all the belts and not defend them and that is what is happening right now, she’s challenging Chantelle again at 140lbs. Pressure needs to be put on her and the organisations – although I’m sure the money she is bringing in for those governing bodies definitely doesn’t do any harm either.’
Dubois, a standout amateur, turned professional in 2021 shortly after a disappointing Olympics campaign in Tokyo. Working alongside trainer Shane McGuigan, she has barely broken a sweat in easing past her seven opponents to date, primed for a world title charge which has been prophesied since she was a teenager.
Dubois briefly shared the McGuigan gym with older brother Daniel, both trained by Shane until the heavyweight parted ways with the trainer earlier this year ahead of his title showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
Describing her current relationship with her brother, the lightweight says she is a’ fan watching from the sidelines, wishing him all the best.’ Behind the closed doors of their gym in Leyton, Dubois is one of the many thriving, with world champions Chris Billam-Smith and Ellie Scotney and another emerging star in Adam Azim part of the winning culture.
‘I’m not really involved in the Daniel Dubois team,’ she said. ‘When Daniel left the gym, Shane said it was a family dispute or family argument and that is the truth. I haven’t spoken to Daniel or my dad since March and of course I will always represent them and always wish Daniel the best in whatever he goes for next but as of now, I haven’t spoken to him. I wish him all the best but as of now I am another fan watching from the sidelines.’
She continued: ‘In this gym, we have competitors, prospects and champions and I’m another name fighting to carve out my own respect and legacy. Nothing is given, everything is earned and that is the feeling in the gym right now with everyone.
‘I’m just another face trying to make my name and I am very grateful being there. I enjoy walking in there being trained by Shane and working with all those fighters.’
Dubois has been carrying the weight of expectation since winning gold at the Youth Olympics as a 17-year-old – with boxing voice Mike Costello on that occasion declaring she might be the greatest female fighter he has ever seen.
The acclaim and anticipation over her career has been constant, with Dubois’ own self-confidence in her ability helping her manage it. But with pressures on her under and away from the spotlight, there have been rough days to contend with.
‘A lot goes on behind the scenes,’ Dubois said. ‘You guys only see us step in the ring, you don’t always know what is happening behind the scenes and that is part of the fighter that is sometimes unnoticed. You don’t see it and you forget it is there.
‘Athletes are seen as superheroes or machines whose only job is to step in the ring, or step on the track, or step on the field and they have to be perfect, speak the rights words. But at the end of the day, we are humans.
‘We all have rough days, we step into the ring or step into the work place with terrible things going on behind the scenes and nobody knows about it except the people in your inner circle. But we have to stay focused, keep your mind on track and keep striving despite what’s going on.’
Rightfully fast-tracked to success, Dubois has little desire to wait around, eager for opportunities to come her way even if it means people like Taylor, one of her heroes, are forced into difficult positions.
‘You should never let anyone rush you,’ Dubois said. ‘You should never feel forced if you don’t think you are at that level. But if you know you are at that level like I know I am, there is no reason to hold yourself back.
‘I need to be fighting the best in the division, I want to walk into a room and people to acknowledge I am one of the best fighters in the world. I want that energy.’
MORE : Tyson Fury mocks Oleksandr Usyk over Daniel Dubois low blow controversy
MORE : Daniel Dubois labelled a ‘dirty’ fighter who targeted Oleksandr Usyk with ‘several low blows’ during controversial world title fight
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