Caroline Dubois cruised past a tough Amelia Moore before trading insults with Alycia Baumgardner at ringside ahead of a potential blockbuster super-fight against the American.Â
The Londoner was rarely troubled throughout a commanding performance to claim a 99-90, 99-90, 98-91 unanimous decision victory and retain her WBC and WBO lightweight world titles in the co-main event at MVPW-06 in Birmingham on Saturday.
Dubois subsequently engaged in a war of words with former undisputed champion Baumgardner, who steps into the same division when she fights Elif Nur Turhan on November 8.
Baumgardner has made her presence felt all week in Birmingham, quizzing former rival Mikaela Mayer at her final press conference while reiterating her belief Dubois is not yet at her level.
"That was a lacklustre performance," said Baumgardner. "You gotta tighten up baby girl. You was tired baby. You was real tired. I'm gonna show you what a champ do Undisputed champ at that. I'm at lightweight now."
Dubois replied: "I've been calling for this for a long time. After the last fight I said move up and fight that bum? What's happened to Amanda Serrano? What happened to Katie Taylor?
"What happened to Claressa Shields? You haven't got anything you've asked for. I got what I asked for. You are moving up to my division. I'm the best in the division and you know it. I'm 25 and I'm better than you.
"I love that. Keep that energy. If you get through Elif Nur Turhan, me and you there's no denying it. Everything I've asked for has happened. I'm knocking this bum out, you'd better believe it."
Dubois asserted herself on the front foot early with a lightning flurry of body shots in the first round, taking control of the distancing in the face of Moore's lengthy reach.
The Londoner sought to find her range in the second against the counter-shot approach of Moore, closing the two minutes with an overhand right to the head of her opponent.
Dubois would continue to control the tempo of the fight in rounds three and four, turning to the body of the well-conditioned Moore, who was struggling to find her target against the sharp movement of her opponent.
A defining flashpoint came in round five when Dubois found the breakthrough with a knockdown seemingly caused by Moore losing her balance more so than the champion's power on this occasion.
Still, Dubois worked to capitalise as she resumed with a fierce attack capped by a right hook.
Dubois landed again with sharp hooks to the head of Moore in round seven, before breaching the American's guard with a crisp straight left.
Blood began to trickly from the nose of Moore in round eight as Dubois sustained her dominance despite a late front foot attack from the challenge in the ninth.
Moore was in the wars again in the final round as she sustained a cut during an accidental clash of heads.
Terri Harper marked her return to the ring in style as she produced a clinical second-round stoppage victory against Houston's Miranda Reyes in her first fight since April's defeat to Dubois.
The Doncaster fighter initially floored Reyes with a beautifully-timed left hand, from which the American continued to look unsteady as she returned to her feet.It didn't take much longer for Harper to finish it, a flurry of hooks being followed by a punishing right hand to put Reyes down for a second time. Reyes returned to her feet yet again, only for the referee to rightly wave off the contest.
"One of the best performances of my career. I'm very happy with that," Harper told Your Site.
"It's good to do that to build the fight up, but you can't get rid of me that easily!
"This journey that I've been on through my boxing career, the highs and lows - I'm just grateful for MVP bringing me back so soon after my last fight.
"I've got a lot more to give you!"
Reina Tellez delivered a ferocious performance to out-gun Jessica Barry in a thrilling points victory for the American fighter.
Tellez, who notably fought the great Amanda Serrano at 15 days' notice in January, landed the cleaner, more eye-catching shots in a straight fire fight to claim a 96-94 win.
"I feel a little bit of ring rust, but overall I feel great, Tellez told Your Site.
"There were things that happened in the fight, but that's what comes with experience. I'm grateful for the platform and opportunity I've been given.
"She showed a lot of heart. A good opponent with a different style. I give her respect. But overall I dominated the fight."
The 23-year-old controlled the exchanges for much of the first four rounds, fast hands meeting accuracy and power to find the head of Barry time and time again.
Barry continued to come forward, though, and came back into the fight in the fifth round as she landed a flush upper-cut.
An undeterred Tellez was deducted a point in round six for a low blow before launching back into an assault and landing a brutal right hand in the eighth to trouble Barry.
Barry showed her toughness and continued to meet fire with fire, but it would be Tellez whose output and full-blooded attacks that prevailed.
Tysie Gallagher celebrated her MVP debut with a points victory over Chicago's Brandi Robinson to improve to 11-2 as a professional.
"I'm not particularly happy about the performance, couldn't really get going, first one back, no excuses. I'll be back 100 per cent next time."
