Caroline Dubois calls on Mikaela Mayer for another landmark fight in women’s

Caroline Dubois wants another landmark event in women’s boxing and to fight Mikaela Mayer in a high-profile lightweight showdown; Dubois beat Yanina Lescano in her last fight and believes she is on course for a world title fight sooner rather than later

Caroline Dubois once looked up to Mikaela Mayer. Now she is looking to fight her.

London’s Dubois is just seven fights into her professional career but in her last contest beat Yanina Lescano, who’s highly ranked in the world at lightweight.

America’s Mayer is a former unified champion at super-feather and has now moved up to 135lbs, the same division as Dubois.

The Briton wants to box Mayer in a high-profile event.

She did praise Mayer’s contribution to women’s boxing. “I’ve watched her since she turned pro. I was watching after the Olympics in 2016. I watched pretty much every fight of hers,” Dubois said.

“It’s amazing to see how she’s done and how she’s helped progress the sport.”

However, Dubois made it clear that she now considers Mayer as a rival not merely a role model, saying: “She’s moved up to my division. So she’s competition now. She isn’t just somebody that I can just look up to, she’s competition.”

Dubois expressed her confidence that a fight with Mayer is within reach, envisioning a highly anticipated match that would attract similar levels of interest to Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall. The Mayer fight is her target. “100%. That’s what I want,” she said.

“That’s what I’ve always wanted. Mikaela Mayer and me, we can sell out the 02 Arena again, it’s going to be amazing.”

Dubois has drawn inspiration from the success of her fellow gym-mates, such as Chris Billam-Smith and Ellie Scotney, who both secured world titles in their last bouts. Their achievements motivate Dubois to elevate her own game. “Chris has gone and won a world title, Ellie’s gone and won a world title. It’s time for me to step up now and start bringing what I bring to the game and doing my own thing,” she said.

Dubois is eager to fight for a world title this year but recognises that will depend on the outcome of other significant matchups.

She explained: “I’ll be pushing for it. I think if [Katie Taylor] goes and fights at 140lbs or fights Amanda Serrano, she’s going to have to vacate and if the belts…