LONDON — The sibling rivalry between Caroline Dubois and her brother Daniel has reached new heights in 2024, with both achieving a significant milestone. The London boxers made history as the second sister-brother duo to simultaneously hold boxing titles. Daniel secured his place in the spotlight by delivering a stunning knockout against Anthony Joshua, captivating an audience of 96,000 at Wembley Stadium during his inaugural defense of the IBF heavyweight title.
Now, it’s Caroline’s moment to shine. As she turns 24, the undefeated Olympian (10-0, 5 KOs) is set to defend her WBC lightweight title against Canada’s Jessica Camara in Sheffield this Saturday. Regardless of the outcome, Caroline has already made headlines by establishing her independence in her boxing career. Although her father, Stanley, initially managed her, she decided to take charge of her own journey over a year ago, which she believes was crucial for her mental health. “I don’t want to end up in a bad mental place,” she expressed, acknowledging the short lifespan of a boxing career. “I aim to retire by 30 and live without regret. It was essential for me to take control and move forward.”
The relationship between the siblings has been strained, as Caroline was not present to cheer for Daniel during his significant fight at Wembley. “Daniel hasn’t come to any of my last four fights,” she remarked, highlighting the disconnect. “He won’t be at this fight or the next few, either.”
Looking ahead, Caroline was recently elevated to the status of WBC lightweight champion following Katie Taylor’s decision to vacate the title. Confident in her abilities, she stated, “I believe I’m the best 135-pounder in the division. If all goes well, I expect to be the undisputed champion by the end of this year.” Currently, Beatriz Ferreira of Brazil holds the IBF title, while Terri Harper from England is the reigning WBO champion, with the WBA belt still up for grabs.
As a southpaw, Dubois is keen on facing Harper, potentially in an all-female boxing event planned for March 7 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This event follows a successful all-female card last year that drew significant viewership in the U.K. and Ireland. “I hope to secure Terri Harper for the event,” she mentioned, while noting that the outcome of her upcoming fight will influence potential matchups.
Meanwhile, Daniel Dubois aspires to become the undisputed champion in his weight class as well. Following Oleksandr Usyk’s victory over Tyson Fury for the heavyweight belts, Daniel interrupted Usyk’s post-fight conversation to demand a rematch after suffering a knockout defeat in their previous encounter.
Interestingly, last year, the Fundora siblings claimed the title of the first brother-and-sister pair to hold boxing titles simultaneously, with Gabriela Fundora being the flyweight champion and brother Sebastian the light middleweight champion, both coached by their father, Freddy.
Caroline’s journey into boxing began at a young age, inspired by her brother and boxing legends like Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. At the age of nine, she sought permission from her father to join a boxing club, which initially only catered to boys. After several refusals, he eventually agreed, and she trained under the alias “Colin” for six months until she was ready for her first fight.
After being homeschooled until age 11, Caroline transitioned to secondary school and quickly rose through the ranks, representing “Team GB” and competing in international tournaments. Her professional career kicked off a year after her quarterfinal exit in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
In her upcoming title defense, Camara (14-4, 3 KOs) is coming off a notable victory, having bested a previously unbeaten competitor in South Korea last April. Caroline, however, seems unfazed. “Her recent win adds relevance to this fight,” she acknowledged. “She poses a threat if I’m not prepared, but thankfully, I am ready.”
