Mayer vs Cameron: Alycia Baumgardner scared of GWOAT heiress Caroline Dubois, says Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields has identified Caroline Dubois as the fighter best placed to succeed her as the GWOAT of women's boxing; Shields hails Dubois’ ambition, confidence and hunger ahead of Saturday’s world-title defence against Amelia Moore, live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 26 August 2026 08:57, UK
Alycia Baumgardner is running scared and doesn't want to confront Caroline Dubois for fear of suffering a second career defeat, according to Claressa Shields.
WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring super featherweight champion Baumgardner has consistently dismissed talk of a fight against Dubois, labelling it premature and insisting the British fighter is not yet at her level.
Baumgardner's comments have done little to deter Dubois, who has remained in relentless pursuit of the American since unifying the division above with her victory over Terri Harper in April.
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Dubois fights unbeaten former US Olympian Amelia Moore in the co-main event of MVPW-06 in Birmingham, alongside Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron, live on Sky Sports this Saturday, and wants Baumgardner next.
As a multi-weight world champion, Shields knows a thing or two about switching weight classes, so she speaks from experience when outlining why she thinks Baumgardner is unwilling to accept Dubois' challenge.
"Honestly, when you've got somebody five pounds bigger than you, beating down your door, barking up your tree, saying what they'll do to you, that they'll beat you up, they'll knock you out, they're calling you out constantly, you would think that Alycia would go up five pounds and just fight and prove her greatness," Shields told Sky Sports.
"I think that Baumgardner is 100 per cent scared of Caroline, and she doesn't want to risk her record now that she already has one loss on it. She doesn't want to risk it. I believe that Caroline will win that fight."
Baumgardner will move up a division to fight Elif Nur Turhan for her IBF lightweight world title on November 8 in a move that could bring a blockbuster showdown with Dubois a step closer.
The next GWOAT?
Since winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals, Shields has conquered every opponent placed in front of her through an unbeaten 19-fight career, becoming a multi-weight world champion and proclaiming herself the Greatest Woman Of All Time.
Only time will tell whether there is a fighter on the planet capable of filling Shields' gloves when she retires from boxing, but she is confident she has already identified the heiress to her throne.
"They asked me who I think is going to carry the torch once I'm gone and I was like, listen, it's going to be Caroline Dubois," Shields added.
"I believe Gabriela Fundora will be a champion to be reckoned with but, right now, Caroline Dubois is right there.
"She's calling out the biggest girls, the best girls, she's trying to make the best fights. She's confident. She's loud. She's mean. She's getting knockouts. She's right on time."
'I'll be there supporting her'
Dubois, the unified WBC and WBO lightweight world champion, is one of the hottest prospects in British and women's boxing and will look to take a step towards undisputed status with victory over Moore in Birmingham.
Shields has taken a keen interest in Dubois' career and has vowed to support her in fulfilling her potential in the sport, whichever direction that may lead.
"Caroline has her own name," Shields said. "If she wants to be called the GWOAT, and she's breaking the records and got the accolades, I'm not going to be mad about it, as long as she's doing GWOAT things, she's fighting the best fighters, and she's winning, and she's racking up the belts.
"I know that my accomplishments are going to be hard to beat. I just became a 21-time world champion last week, but Caroline has the IT factor, and she'll fight anybody.
"I'm going to be there supporting her. If she ever needs me in camp, or anything, she knows that I'll be there. We always joke about sparring; one day it's going to happen.
"She's already asked me [for advice], and I've already given it to her. I just told her to have fun with her career, make her career about her, do whatever she wants to do, and always prepare and never underestimate her opponents."
Watch Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron this Saturday with Caroline Dubois also in action, live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.
