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Dubois likely to fight for a world title after boxing on Butasi-Azeez bill

Caroline Dubois is one step away from challenging for a world title. 

The Olympian makes her first appearance of 2024 this weekend on the undercard to the highly-anticipated light-heavyweight clash between Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez at Wembley Arena. 

Dubois defends her ranking and undefeated record against Miranda Reyes as she edges closer towards contesting the IBF lightweight title, which was vacated by Katie Taylor after the Irish star decided her future belonged at super-lightweight. 

The IBF mandated Dubois and Rhiannon Dixon to contest the vacant IBF title; however, Dixon ultimately pursued a vacant WBO title opportunity against Karen Carajabal in a fight which takes place on April 13 at the Manchester Arena.

Ben Shalom, who promotes Dubois, revealed terms had been agreed between Dubois and Dixon and that Dubois had accepted two offers from Matchroom for the contest to take place on a bill staged by the promotional group behind Dixon. 

The next highest-rated contender within the IBF ratings is fellow Tokyo 2020 Olympian Beatriz Ferreira, who claimed a lightweight silver medal and is unbeaten in four fights as a professional.

Shalom, speaking to Sky Sports, insisted that Dubois will box for a world title and spoke about the failed Dixon negotiations.

“Caroline will box on February 3 and then will box for a world title after that,” Shalom said.

“We received two offers [to fight Rhiannon Dixon]. We accepted them both. We’d have loved that, we accepted it and then Rhiannon pulled out. I think the key for me is not to mess around Caroline, keep her activity up.

“We can crack on for world titles from there and we’ll see what happens.

“We did accept two offers, it’s a shame we couldn’t make that fight happen. Caroline will box on February 3, she’s got a long, long time ahead of her.”