Caroline Dubois talks about her sporting idols in conversation with Sky Sports News’ Chris Reidy for Black History Month; the 22-year-old named four Black sportswomen as the inspiration behind her rise in boxing: Claressa Shields, Coco Gauff, Simone Biles and Laila Ali
As part of Black History Month, IBO lightweight champion Caroline Dubois tells us about the women who have inspired her during her career
As part of Black History Month, Caroline Dubois has told Sky Sports News about her sporting idols and their influence on her boxing career.
The 22-year-old is no stranger to pressure, having already become the Youth Olympic champion and claimed four European Youth Championships.
Her professional career has started on a similarly successful footing. In her opening eight fights, she’s racked up five wins by knockout and three by decision, with the most recent victory earning her the IBO lightweight belt.
With this year’s Black History Month theme of ‘Saluting our Sisters’, we asked the British boxer which sportswomen inspired her rise and she told us about four Black sportswomen she idolised in Claressa Shields, Coco Gauff, Simone Biles and Laila Ali.
Dubois’ first role model is fellow boxer Claressa Shields. The 28-year-old is the only fighter in the sport’s history – male or female – to hold all four major world titles simultaneously in two weight classes.
She is widely regarded as the world’s top pound-for-pound female boxer and is 14-0 with two knockouts as a pro.
“I didn’t have many female boxers that I looked up to growing up,” Dubois said. “Luckily, I remember watching her at the Olympics.”
Shields won gold medals in the women’s middleweight division at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, making her the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals.
“I became a No 1 fan; everything she has represented to me. I remember going up into squads and being the only Black girl there. I felt very insecure about how I looked and who I was,” Dubois said.
“Shields, she was so big, strong, and good. I saw her shows, and she never lost. I really needed to have someone like Shields when I was a kid.”
