How Caroline Dubois counterpunched through boxing’s glass ceiling

On September 30, British boxer Caroline Dubois defeated Magali Rodriguez to claim the title of International Boxing Organisation (IBO) lightweight champion. “If you say females can’t box, I’ll get in the ring and show you otherwise,” the 22-year-old tells me, ahead of the ten-round bout at York Hall. She’s determined to win in style to announce her name to the world. “If you say we’re not strong, not skilful, not as talented, every time I step in the ring, I’ll try my hardest to show you otherwise.” Dubois achieved this unanimously – although she’s unhappy that she didn’t manage to knock out the Mexican boxer with her ten-ounce gloves, to extend her professional undefeated record to eight wins and seven stoppages.

Dubois’ African-American enslaved ancestor Sylvia was a bare-knuckled fighter in 1700s New Jersey, who earned her freedom by striking her mistress back. Centuries later, ‘very competitive’ and ‘bubbly’ Dubois did swimming, running, and gymnastics before shocking her boxing-mad dad by asking to follow her heavyweight older brother into the ring. “I wanted some of the action,” she admits after seeing how Daniel going away to tournaments and bringing back medals gave their house (she’s one of 11 children) a buzz. “We’d watch The Contender series, Friday night boxing, and rewatch massive OG fights because our dad had those on tape,” she reminisces. “The one fight that really stood out was David Haye and Dereck Chisora [in 2012].”

Initially disguised as ‘Colin’ because gyms didn’t allow girls to train back then, Dubois quickly rose through the ranks under coach Gary McGuinness at Repton Amateur Boxing Club. Moving on to Dale Youth, the talented boxer sadly lost both her influential coach Tony Disson and the ground-floor gym in the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

“I’d say the general attitude towards women boxing has changed for the better,” Dubois believes. “Now you’re seeing it on the telly, promoted in the gyms and the clubs.” After becoming Youth Olympic champion, World Youth champion, four-time European Youth champion, 2019 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and shedding the little sister tag, Dubois turned pro after narrowly missing out on a Tokyo 2020 Olympic medal. “I love seeing the young girls coming through. It keeps me on my toes because I’m thinking ‘wow, these girls are good. They’re gonna be catching up to me soon,’” she adds. “It just pushes me and makes me train harder, so I’m still motivating them.”

History was made when Dubois defeated Milena Koleva, before American boxer Claressa Shields, one of the 22-year-old’s biggest inspirations, overcame Savannah Marshall to become the undisputed middleweight World Champion in the first-ever televised all-female boxing card last October. Over two million people tuned into Sky Sports and I was there in person at the sold-out O2 arena. As epic and electrifying as the fights were, I couldn’t stomach some of the bruising punches – something Dubois totally understands. “It’s a very niche sport because of the injuries and physical contact. People will always be jumpy, cautious, and apprehensive,” she says. What could make boxing more popular? “Introduce it into schools and let people get a taste of it.”

Below, we chat to Dubois about her pre-match rituals, what keeps her motivated, and what the future holds.

Can you share your earliest sports-related memory?

Caroline Dubois: Going to gymnastics class in Crystal Palace aged seven. It was really fun crawling through tunnels and doing cartwheels. Polar opposite of my first experience at the boxing gym aged nine: I remember seeing kids crying in the ring after sparring.

Define what a ‘sport’ is.

Caroline Dubois: Being passionate about discipline. Usain Bolt said something like ‘I trained for eight years to run for nine seconds’ and that is what sport is all about – dedicating your life to turn up for one moment.

How is your training tailored to your body?

Caroline Dubois: I train six days a week, sometimes twice or three times a day, so that when I step in the ring, I’m the best I can be. Boxers are pretty much full-time runners and it’s important to make weight properly so my nutritionist monitors me. Being a woman is difficult: we have periods and our bodies have more expected body water and fat than men.

“I just hope that one day, when young boys and girls are taping boxing, my name springs up. That‘ll make me happy” – Caroline Dubois

Your three standout ring qualities?

Caroline Dubois: My power, ring IQ, and God-given natural talent. I don’t need to drill things over and over again. When [my coach] Shane McGuigan shows me something, I can visualise and get it straight away.

Why did you want to go pro?

Caroline Dubois: I wanted to go pro before the Olympics seeing Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Natasha Jonas tearing up Mikaela Mayer. I felt like I’d be a great addition to the pro ranks.

Favourite skill?

Caroline Dubois: Being a counterpuncher, I don’t like to waste punches. I make sure they hit and hurt. My amateur coach would always say hit ’em hard and hit ’em often – that’s one of my mottos.

How has your style evolved over the years?

Caroline Dubois: I watched Marvin Hagler, Roberto Durán, Sugar Ray Lennard, and Tommy Hearns, and adapted. As an amateur, it’s very important to be fit, disciplined, and strong but as I turned pro, Shane has always drilled into us that boxing is a skilled sport and not just physical. I’m learning to sit on my punches and move my head more.

What’s the goal after becoming the World Champion?

Caroline Dubois: To be undisputed, which means to have all the belts at my weight, move up and do the same at as many weights as I can.

What are you ultimately fighting for?

Caroline Dubois: To support my brothers, sisters, and myself and create a life for myself. I just hope that one day, when young boys and girls are taping boxing, my name springs up. That’ll make me happy.

Any unique rituals or superstitions?

Caroline Dubois: I like to step in the ring first when I’m sparring and see them climb through the ropes after me into my ring.

What’s been your biggest ‘I told you so’ moment?

Caroline Dubois: Qualifying for the 2020 Olympics. I was very inexperienced, and the fact that I was able to push forward, discipline myself, focus my mind, and strengthen myself physically and mentally to qualify the first time round was more of ‘I told you so’ to myself.

In this new age of female athletes and wider representation, how body-confident are you?

Caroline Dubois: I was probably the most muscular on the GB team, the most physically strong-looking, and it used to bother me. But it doesn’t anymore. That’s why I really liked Claressa Shields, because she was strong and looked really built. Seeing other people like that helped give me confidence and inspire me.

Break down your boxing look.

Caroline Dubois: I train in leggings and T-shirts. I like custom boots with a little razzle dazzle and my fight shorts to be shiny, glittery and fringed. I like to feel like people are watching me and my hair to be braided slick. When you step in the ring looking like the dog’s bollocks, you perform on that level as well.

What issues are you passionate about resolving?

Caroline Dubois: When I was a kid, I was very unconfident. As I started to get older, people would say ‘she looks like a man’ and I let it get to me. I would tell girls and young women not to worry about how they look when they train, focus on getting a good session in and improving themselves.

What hobbies and interests do you have outside of boxing?

Caroline Dubois: I’d call myself creative. I like drawing, listening to music, going out, playing pool, taking my mind off things by hanging out with my brothers and sisters.

Fictional or real: which sports personality do you relate to the most and why?

Caroline Dubois: Mulan. When I was a kid, I really liked the cartoon film. The woman, fighter, and warrior who risked it all for her family and country. I like that intensity and mindset.

If you could rebuild your body using the parts of iconic sportspeople, which ones would you go for and why?

Caroline Dubois: I’d have the knockout power of Deontay Wilder, the ring IQ of Floyd Mayweather, the punch speed of Manny Pacquiao, and the combination punching of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

If you could be the absolute GOAT at another sport, what would it be and why?

Caroline Dubois: I’m the worst runner on this planet! I’d love to be a good 100m, 200m, 400m runner: explosive, powerful, fast.

What’s the future of women’s boxing?

Caroline Dubois: It will soon be on the same level as the men and that’s what I hoped for – women earning big money and the respect they deserve. Hopefully, I’m the girl who can grab attention and be involved in exciting fights. I have to make sure I’m around when it explodes.