Shields vs Marshall: Caroline Dubois sets herself big task for blockbuster fight

Caroline Dubois has set herself a huge task when she steps into the ring on the Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall undercard next weekend.

The 21-year-old is just three fights into her professional boxing career but she is set to make a splash on the UK's first ever televised all-female fight card.

Dubois will take on Milena Koleva on October 15th, and she wants to use this opportunity to show she has what it takes to become an eventual world champion.

Dubois ready for action

In an interview with Sky Sports, an excited Dubois made her intentions clear for the fight against her Bulgarian opponent.

"This is a start. If I can't beat this girl I can't be fighting for world titles can I?

"But it's obviously a stepping stone. You have to eventually move up the level of opposition that you're fighting and I'm doing that now."

Former Olympian Dubois is unbeaten in her professional career so far, having won all three of her fights. Koleva on the other hand, has won ten of her 25 bouts.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Caroline Dubois trains with their coach Shane McGuigan during the BOXXER and Sky Sports Media Day ahead of the BOXXER and Sky Sports Boxing Fight Night at the OVO Wembley Arena on March 26th 2022 at Glaziers Hall on March 14, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)

Although the 34-year-old will enter the fight off the back of three defeats, Dubois has paid respect to her opponent and is aware of her pedigree inside the ring.

"She's been in there. She's fought for a world title. She's fought against people that have world titles," the Brit said.

"She's fought Katie Taylor, Firuza Sharipova, Delfine Persoon, Maiva Hamadouche. She's fought high-level people. So she's going to be experienced in the ring. She's going to know how to handle herself.

"Katie Taylor didn't stop her. Delfine Persoon couldn't stop her. Firuza Sharipova couldn't stop her. There's no pressure on me to force a stoppage. All I want to do is go out there and perform and beat her up."

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 25: Katie Taylor (Black Shorts) fights Milena Koleva during the Super-Featherweight match between Katie Taylor and Milena Koleva at Manchester Arena on March 25, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Taylor, who retained her undisputed lightweight titles against Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden, fought Koleva back in 2017.

The Bulgarian hung on against the Bray Bomber but eventually lost on points. The same happened against Persoon and Sharipova in 2011 and 2017 respectively.

While she is not necessarily looking for a show-stopping knockout against Koleva, a determined Dubois wants to leave a lasting memory in her opponent's mind.

"I want to go out there with a dominant performance and I want to beat this person up. It doesn't matter if I stop her or not. I just want to make sure she comes out the ring thinking, 'Damn, I was in there with a girl that's miles ahead of me.'

"I want her to feel the difference when we're in the ring."