British boxer of Nigerian heritage, Caroline Dubois, delivered a dominant to defeat compatriot Terri Harper and unify the lightweight world titles in a high-profile clash at London’s Olympia.
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Dubois, whose mother is Nigerian, lived up to expectations by flooring and blooding Harper en route to a convincing unanimous decision victory.
The judges scored the bout 98-91, 97-92, and 98-91, as Dubois added the WBO title to her existing WBC belt.
After a cagey opening half, the fight burst into life in the sixth round when Dubois dropped Harper with a sharp jab followed by a well-timed left hook.
The knockdown shifted momentum firmly in her favour, as she began to assert control with cleaner and more powerful combinations.
Harper, a former three-weight world champion, showed resilience despite suffering a nasty cut near her eye following a clash of heads in the eighth round.
Bloodied but determined, she continued to press forward and exchange until the final bell, demonstrating her trademark toughness.
Dubois, however, maintained composure and tactical superiority, consistently landing significant shots, particularly with her southpaw left hand. Her sustained pressure and accuracy proved decisive in what ultimately became a clear-cut victory.
Speaking after the fight, Dubois praised her opponent while reaffirming her own intent to dominate the division.
“Terri had a good showing and showed why she is a very good boxer. The better woman won tonight,” she said.
The bout marked a milestone moment in Dubois’ career, improving her professional record to 13 wins and one draw, while also representing the biggest victory of her journey so far.
For Harper, the defeat drops her record to 16 wins, three losses, and two draws, raising questions about her next move in the sport.
With unified status now secured, Dubois has set her sights on becoming the undisputed lightweight champion, with potential future clashes against champions such as Stephanie Han and Elif Nur Turhan on the horizon.
At just 25, Dubois continues to rise as one of Britain’s brightest boxing talents, and this statement victory further cements her growing reputation on the global stage.
