BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom has promised to deliver a unification showdown for WBC world lightweight champion Caroline Dubois’ next outing.
According to her head coach, Shane McGuigan, ‘Sweet Caroline’ should return to the ring in either late June or early July, though a specific date is yet to be confirmed.
Nevertheless, it appears to be a toss-up between newly-crowned titlists Terri Harper and Stephanie Han as to who will face the formidable technician this summer.
Dubois, 11-0-1 (5 KOs), retained her green and gold strap last month after producing a comprehensive performance against mandatory challenger Bo Mi Re Shin.
But despite the dominant nature of her display, one judge – belonging to the same nation as Shin, funnily enough – managed to deliver a mystifying scorecard of 95-95.
Yet still, with Dubois claiming a majority decision victory, she nonetheless extended her ruthless surge in a division that now boasts four highly-skilled world champions.
The most accomplished, it could be said, is IBF titlist Beatriz Ferreira, a decorated amateur who many now consider to be the number-one lightweight as a professional.
But while the Brazilian may represent her toughest challenge, Dubois would still have her work cut out in a potential domestic dustup with Harper, 15-2-2 (6 KOs).
The 28-year-old dethroned Rhiannon Dixon to seize her WBO strap last September, with her next assignment – against unbeaten contender Natalie Zimmermann – taking place on May 23.
WBA champion Han, 10-0 (3 KOs), meanwhile, has a fight lined up on July 12 after claiming her belt with an emphatic first-round finish over Hannah Terlep earlier this year.
In any case, both fighters represent possible options for Dubois, whose upcoming outing is seemingly close to being finalised.
“I think we know what that fight’s going to be,” Shalom told Boxing News. “It’s a unification fight, and I think we’ll be able to announce that pretty soon.”
When asked about whether it will be against Han, Shalom said, “possibly, or Terri.”
