Caroline Dubois has been crowned unified lightweight champion after beating Terri Harper in a one-sided bout on Easter Sunday.
The 25-year-old Briton is among the sport’s most exciting talents and came into this unification fight unbeaten in 13 professional fights.
But she had her work cut out for her as she faced the more experienced Harper, four years her senior.
Dubios showed no signs of nerves, though, dictating the terms of engagement from the first bell and knocking her opponent down in the sixth of ten rounds.
Harper was promptly back to her feet and saw the fight through to the finish despite sustaining a grisly cut above her left eye.
While she fell short of a sixth career knockout, the judges’ scorecards read heavily in Dubois’ favour.
Harper was in good spirits as she left the ring with her white uniform heavily bloodied. She left Dubois in the ring to soak up the moment, and she set her sights on an undisputed title.
“Terri had a good showing and showed why she is a very good boxer,” Dubois reflected.
“From my side it was never personal, it was personal for Terri. I am a fighter and an entertainer. I put myself out there to show up for you guys, and talk the talk to be entertaining; that is why this fight was the most talked about.
“I felt like I started really well. Terri was very negative and we knew she was going to be. It was tricky to get her.
“The plan is [to go for undisputed champion]. I only want big fights from here. I have two more fights and I want to make them two of the biggest.”
There was notable action on the undercard, too, as Ellie Scotney beat Mexico’s Mayelli Flores in a thriller to be crowned Britain’s youngest-ever undisputed champion.
“I can't tell you how much of a hard fight that was, I think the scorecards didn't give her justice - she was non-stop from the first bell,” Scotney said after her victory by unanimous decision was confirmed.
“When I tell you I had to go through so many tests to get here today. Only God brought me through.”
