Caroline Dubois produced a commanding performance on her American debut, outclassing Camilla Panatta to retain her WBC lightweight title at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The 24-year-old Londoner showcased precision, patience, and superior boxing IQ in front of a live audience for the first time outside the United Kingdom as a professional.

Dubois Drops Panatta in Sixth Round

The fight remained competitive for the early rounds, but Dubois’ skill advantage soon became apparent. In the sixth round, Dubois delivered a perfectly timed counter right, flooring Panatta and effectively putting the contest beyond doubt. By the final bell, Dubois had secured a unanimous decision victory, with all three judges scoring the 10-round bout 99-90.

“I felt like I could have done a little bit more, I give myself a B,” Dubois admitted modestly after her performance.

This victory extends Dubois’ professional record to 12 wins and one draw, while handing Panatta her third defeat in 12 fights.

Early Domination on the Undercard

Dubois fought under her new promoters, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), and appeared on the undercard of the blockbuster heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul. Walking to the ring singing Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman”, Dubois exuded confidence, moving in and out of range while landing consistent punches on Panatta from her southpaw stance.

By the third round, her straight lefts landed cleanly and repeatedly, signaling a clear class gap. Dubois mixed body shots and uppercuts effectively throughout the middle rounds, drawing praise from stablemate and former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith.

A Perfect Counter Ends the Contest

The defining moment came in the sixth round when Dubois slipped Panatta’s attack and fired a counter straight to the chin, sending the 34-year-old Italian crashing to the canvas. Panatta rose quickly but appeared shaken, allowing Dubois to control the rest of the round and close out the remaining rounds comfortably.

The judges’ scorecards reflected Dubois’ dominance: 99-90 across the board, leaving no doubt about her superiority in the ring.

What’s Next for Caroline Dubois?

Dubois’ move to MVP promises to accelerate her career trajectory. The promotional outfit, headed by Anthony Joshua and CEO Nakisa Bidarian, has invested heavily in women’s boxing, opening doors for high-profile bouts that could elevate Dubois’ international profile.

Potential future matchups include a unification fight with Doncaster’s Terri Harper, the WBO champion and MVP signee, as well as other notable names in the division such as WBA champion Stephanie Han and IBF titleholder Elif Nur Turhan.

Dubois also teased a future clash with American super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner, who responded later that night expressing interest in the bout. Dubois noted the fight is “not next, but definitely down the line.”

Dubois Adapts to 12-Round Format

For the first time in her professional career, Dubois competed under the 12 three-minute round format, aligning with the structure used in men’s boxing. She had temporarily relinquished her WBC belt to make this adjustment, demonstrating her ambition to compete at the highest level of women’s boxing globally.

Other Highlights from the Card

On the same undercard:

• Cherneka Johnson of New Zealand-Australia retained her undisputed bantamweight title with a points win over Amanda Galle.
• Yokasta Valle of Costa Rica outpointed Yadira Bustillos to hold on to her WBC minimumweight belt.

Conclusion

Caroline Dubois’ commanding performance in Miami reinforced her status as one of the brightest talents in women’s boxing today. With new promotional backing, a 12-round fight experience, and potential high-profile unification bouts on the horizon, the 24-year-old Londoner is poised for a meteoric rise in the global boxing scene.