Caroline Dubois upgraded to WBC world lightweight champion as Katie Taylor vacates title

Caroline Dubois has been crowned WBC world lightweight champion following a ruling by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman at the governing body’s annual convention in Hamburg.

The 23-year-old, from Greenwich, captured the WBC interim title with a unanimous points victory over Maira Moneo in August.

Unbeaten Dubois has been calling for a shot at Katie Taylor’s world lightweight title, but the Irish fighter has opted to vacate.

Dubois has been upgraded to full world champion.

She will make the first defence of her WBC title on January 11, her 24th birthday, at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield against Canada’s highly-ranked former world title challenger Jessica Camara.

Dubois said: “It is a great honour to be elevated to full WBC world champion and to have WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman present me with the belt.

“It’s always been my dream to become world champion, and this is just the start of the journey for me. I look forward to defending my WBC world title on January 11 in Sheffield.”

Dubois is promoted by BOXXER.

BOXXER founder and chief executive Ben Shalom said: “We would like to thank WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and the board of governors for upgrading Caroline.

“The WBC lightweight title is active again, and in Caroline, the WBC has a champion who can rule for many years to come. We are only just starting to see her true potential. We believe Caroline will become the future face of women’s boxing.”

PICTURE: BOXXER/LAWRENCE LUSTIG