Caroline Dubois is the ‘next face of women’s boxing’, says promoter Ben Shalom

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Carolien Dubois
Dubois – who gained 37 bouts as an novice with three defeats – will make her skilled debut in opposition to Lithuania’s Vaida Masiokaite at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Saturday

Caroline Dubois. Remember the identify.

The 21-year-old light-weight will make her lengthy awaited skilled debut in Cardiff on Saturday night time and, based on Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom, is destined to develop into “the subsequent face of women’s boxing”.

Inspired to take up the sport by huge brother Daniel – the WBA number-one ranked heavyweight in the world – she is one of the most fun younger skills in British boxing.

Signing Dubois was fairly the assertion for Boxxer, who final yr agreed an unique deal – alongside Top Rank in US – to broadcast fights on Sky Sports.

“There was enormous competitors to signal her. There’s a presence about her, there’s one thing particular,” Shalom says.

“We get excited as a result of we all know what she will do for women’s boxing over the subsequent 10 years. For any fighter with that potential or pedigree, they need to be on Sky and the greatest platform potential.”

From Colin to Caroline

Dubois’ drive and tenacity to achieve the sport was evident from the second she stepped foot in a boxing health club.

At the age of 9, the Londoner pretended to be a boy named Colin with the intention to prepare at an area health club which might not enable women.

Her dedication and thirst to study was equally matched with uncooked expertise. Honing her abilities at the Dale Youth Amateur Boxing Club in the years to return, the accolades started to stack up.

Having gained the European Youth championships 4 instances, Dubois was additionally topped World Youth champion after which gained gold at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.

“She can combine it up. She’s bought energy. She’s quick. She can combat on the again foot or take her time. She simply has a boxing mind,” Shalom says.

Dubois transitioned into the senior amateurs with ease and was rewarded with a call-up to the Team Great Britain squad for the 2021 Olympics.

‘She did not need to waste one other three years’

Caroline Dubois v Sudaporn Seesondee at the Tokyo Olympics
Dubois (left) misplaced by only one level in a quarter-final bout in opposition to Sudaporn Seesondee at the Tokyo Olympics

As seen with the likes of Amir Khan, Katie Taylor and Anthony Joshua, an Olympic medal can catapult a younger boxer into the skilled ranks.

Dubois went to Tokyo with excessive hopes.

But her purpose of standing proudly on the podium was ended when she narrowly misplaced a quarter-final bout in opposition to Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee.

She was then confronted with a dilemma all too acquainted for adorned novice boxers; proceed the Olympic dream or take the extra profitable, but dangerous, leap into skilled boxing .

“She did not need to spend one other three years in the amateurs and gamble all of it for 3 rounds in the Olympics,” Shalom says.

Dubois joined her brother in coach Shane McGuigan’s steady. As a right-handed southpaw, a singular boxing type the place her lead hand is the strongest weapon, Shalom says her type “will go well with” skilled sport.

“She is a particularly particular expertise. Shane stated he is by no means seen a feminine fighter like her,” Shalom provides.

The subsequent international women’s boxing star?

Ireland’s undisputed light-weight champion Taylor is extensively credited for propelling women’s boxing into the mainstream.

The 36-year-old will face American Amanda Serrano on 30 April in the first feminine bout to headline New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden.

Shalom expects Dubois to fill a void as soon as Taylor calls time on her profession, and predicts his fighter will develop into a world celebrity.

“Katie has damaged boundaries for the women’s sport and brought to it one other degree,” he says.

“Caroline along with her background, the truth she is a lady, she’s black and he or she has the odds stacked in opposition to her, she might be the subsequent face of the women’s sport.

“She will transcend the world of boxing. Just like Katie Taylor or Anthony Joshua has carried out. Caroline has the similar star high quality. “

‘You want to avoid wasting Caroline from herself’

With excessive hopes come enormous expectations, however Shalom is acutely conscious of fastidiously managing Dubois’ profession as she makes the adjustment to skilled boxing.

“Caroline desires to combat world champions tomorrow,” he says. “She feels prepared however you virtually want to avoid wasting her from herself.”

Shalom feels Dubois can study from her brother’s personal setback in 2020. Daniel Dubois steamrolled via his first 15 opponents, stopping 14 inside the distance, earlier than his unbeaten document was ended by Briton Joe Joyce.

“Daniel was maybe thrown into the lion’s den too early and possibly Caroline appears to be like at that and understands it extra,” Shalom says.

“The followers need to see her in huge 50-50 fights immediately however we do not need to go too dangerous too early.

“The good drawback we’ve got is that she will genuinely cope with the greatest already. It’s horrifying how good she is. She may win world titles in a number of divisions.

“But it is our job to information and her and likewise develop her as a human being. To make certain she grows as a fighter, an individual and a lady.”

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