Dubois blasts 'joker' Turhan, eyes Han bout by end of 2026

Unified lightweight champion Caroline Dubois has criticised IBF titleholder Elif Nur Turhan for making 'ridiculous' financial demands, calling her a 'joker' as she outlined plans to fight Stephanie Han by the end of 2026.

Dubois, 25, unified the WBC, WBO, and Ring Magazine lightweight belts in April after dropping Terri Harper en route to a unanimous decision victory. She will next defend her titles against American Amelia Moore on August 29 in Birmingham, live on Sky Sports.

What happened

Dubois revealed that her team made an offer to Turhan for a unification fight, but the IBF champion requested what Dubois described as an 'astronomical, ridiculous amount'. Dubois said the demand was so high that negotiations were immediately dismissed. 'She isn't about it,' Dubois stated. 'She thinks she is something that she isn't. She's a joker.'

The British southpaw expressed disappointment that Turhan's demands have delayed her pursuit of becoming undisputed champion. Dubois warned that Turhan risks losing her title if she continues to avoid reasonable negotiations.

Why it matters

• Dubois aims to become undisputed lightweight champion by unifying all four major belts.
• Turhan holds the IBF title, the only belt missing from Dubois's collection.
• Stephanie Han is lined up as an alternative opponent, with a fight targeted before end of 2026.
• Dubois's August 29 bout with Moore is a mandatory defence of her unified titles.
• The MVPW-06 card features all UK vs USA matchups, headlined by Mikaela Mayer vs Chantelle Cameron.

What's next

Dubois will focus on her title defence against Moore on August 29. She remains confident that a fight with Turhan will eventually happen, but has already shifted her attention to Han. 'I know I'm going to fight Stephanie Han after this,' Dubois said. 'Turhan is a joker. She's going to have to wait.'