Caroline Dubois secured the WBO world lightweight title alongside her existing WBC belt, defeating fellow Briton Terri Harper via unanimous decision. The London native, younger sister of heavyweight Daniel Dubois, earned scores of 98-91, 97-92, and 98-91 at London Olympia on Sunday night.
Dubois Dominates After Early Knockdown
Dubois faced initial challenges in closing the distance, but she floored Harper in the sixth round and controlled the bout thereafter, advancing toward division unification. Following the victory, Dubois affirmed her ambitions, stating: “100% – that’s the plan. I only want big fights from now on. I’ve got two more fights this year and I want to make them two of the biggest.”
The buildup featured heated verbal sparring, including a shove from Harper during a tense face-off. Dubois clarified her mindset: “It was never personal for me. It was always personal for Terri. I’m a fighter and I’m an entertainer, I put myself out there to show up for you guys, I talk the talk to be entertaining for you guys, and this is why this fight was the most talked about, the most exciting.”
Round-by-Round Breakdown
The opening round remained cautious, with neither landing significant strikes—Harper deftly avoided Dubois’s left hook, though she connected with a straight right in the second. Dubois gained the edge in close exchanges during the third, ramping up pressure in the fourth with body shots and a sharp right hook.
Harper stayed elusive, but a powerful left hook dropped her with 11 seconds left in the sixth, energizing Dubois. She intensified her attack, and after a head clash caused heavy bleeding for Harper in the eighth, both traded blows fiercely. They endured the grueling final rounds on their feet, securing Dubois’s decisive win.
Scotney Unifies Super-Bantamweight Division
In the earlier bout, Ellie Scotney unified the super-bantamweight titles, defeating Mayelli Flores on points to add the WBA strap to her WBO, WBC, and IBF crowns.
