Caroline Dubois gets breakthrough knockdown in star-power performance

Terri Harper kept Caroline Dubois out of range with subtle backpedals during several sequences over the first five rounds of their fight Sunday night.

Despite getting growingly frustrated, ‘Sweet Caroline’ kept working and when she caught Harper up against the ropes late in the sixth round, Dubois pounced.

The British fighter unleashed a lightning-quick one-two combination, with the first shot landing flush on Harper’s face and the left on her temple for a riveting knockdown that brought Claressa Shields to her feet ringside at London’s Olympia venue.

It was the breakthrough the 25-year-old Dubois needed to pull away from the battle-tested Harper in claiming a dominant unanimous decision toward becoming the unified lightweight world champion, snatching Harper’s WBO title and adding it to her own WBC hardware.

The three-time undisputed queen Shields would later join Dubois in the ring to celebrate the latter's win.

Dubois, the younger sister of former heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois, had a rather pretentious-to-heated buildup with Harper, but was able to reach another breakthrough when interviewed live on the ESPN app after Sunday night’s victory.

“It was never personal for me,” Dubois said. “It was always personal for Terri.

“I’m a fighter and I’m an entertainer,” she continued. “I put myself out there to show off for you guys. I talk the talk to be entertaining for you guys and this is why this fight was the most talked about.”

Dubois also walked the walk in soundly dismantling a veteran Harper who has shared the ring with the likes of Cecilia Braekhus, Natasha Jonas and Alycia Baumgardner to name a few.

The win reinforced that Dubois can not only sell a fight, but put forth a dominating sweet science performance under the brightest of lights as she and Harper were the headliners of Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural card dedicated to its MVPW leg for women.

Dubois (13-0, 5 KOs) expressed interest in pursuing an undisputed reign at lightweight, needing the IBF and WBA titles to accomplish that goal. MVP could also explore lining her up with Baumgardner in what would be a mega fight. The two exchanged verbal jabs during a press conference in December and with both signed to MVP, the potential bout should be seamless to cement.

Whatever Dubois' next move is, 'Sweet Caroline' has proved she is a must-watch fighter whose star trajectory is boundless. Sunday night's win over a gritty Harper only added to her growing star power.