Dubois wins on GB debut in London Olympic qualifier
March 14, 2020 | by Matt Halfpenny
Caroline Dubois unanimous win over Belarusian Ala Staradub was the highlight of the first session of day one of the boxing’s Road to Tokyo European Qualifying event in London.
In her first senior appearance for GB – having stepped up from the England Talent Pathway – the Repton boxer boxed sensibly to comfortably win in the Women’s lightweight (60kg) category.
She will be joined in the next round by her teammate Frazer Clarke, from Burton ABC, who was handed a walkover in his opening super-heavyweight (91kg+) bout after his opponent Clemente Russo withdrew, with his coach citing an abdominal problem.
Speaking after her victory, Dubois said: “This is the first fight, it’s always the worst one. It was okay, definitely not my best and if you ask any of the GB coaches, they’ll tell you that, I can be much better.”
Dubois faces a tough test in her next bout when she will face the number one seed from Finland, Mira Potkonen, but the 19-year-old showed no signs of being phased by the task.
She added: “Mira Potkonen is the top seed but at the end of the day she only has two hands, two legs and one brain and that’s the same as I have. To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.
“I know exactly what to expect and she knows exactly what to expect of me, it’s going to be a good fight for sure.”
Tomorrow, GB’s Rosie Eccles, from Wales, will take on Russian fourth seed Saadat Dalgatova at Women’s welterweight (69kg).
