Carolyn DuBois knows exactly what she wants for her birthday on Saturday.
In her first world title defense, Dubois, the WBC lightweight champion, fights Jessica Kamara, Live on Sky SportsShe doesn't just want to beat the Canadian, she wants to win by knockout.
A close finish is what she will be aiming for in their showdown at Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield.
“It's my birthday, so it's a nice little gift for myself,” said DuBois, who turns 24 today (Jan. 11). Sky Sports.
“It's a game. She's going to try. She's going to come and do her best. She's going to come throw everything at me. But I'll be able to take that and give it back.”
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Speaking ahead of her first defense of the WBC lightweight belt, Dubois questioned Kamara's fighting record and believes she will knock out the Canadian.
Dubois puts her world title belt on the line in the same bill which sees a thrilling showdown between British and Commonwealth middleweight champion Callum Simpson and Steed Woodall.
Kamara, a seasoned pro, warned Dubois. “She's looking in front of me,” the Canadian said. “She's looking in front of me.” Sky Sports. “Honestly, I have more experience in the pros and I feel more mature. She's immature. She doesn't see the task in front of her. She doesn't really look at it.”
“It's a big mistake. You'll see.”
The Canadian is convinced she can deliver to Dubois when they fight. “I believe in myself. I did my best. I had a good but difficult career. I faced a lot of challenges and I feel I have what it takes to beat Caroline,” Kamara said.
“She's a great fighter. I have a lot of respect for her but she's not a superhuman. She's beatable and I think I can do it.
“I think I have what it takes to make adjustments in the fight and shake off the discomfort.
“I'm confident in my abilities. I'm confident in my skill. I feel strong. I believe in myself.”
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Callum Simpson says he has big ambitions in the super middleweight division and if he is to achieve them, he must beat the likes of Stead Woodall.
Kamara's record includes four defeats in her career, but she achieved important victories, including her victory over Hyun Mi Choi, the former world champion, in Korea last year.
But Dubois refused.
“It's okay. I never evaluated Choi. I feel like a lot of people know why Choi was so inactive. She didn't fight for about a year. She was chasing other things and her mind was all over the place,” the Briton said.
“Jessica had the opportunity to do this. I'm sure Choi underestimated Jessica.
“For me, it means nothing because I would have stopped Choi, in my opinion.
“All I know is I'm going to give it everything I have and we'll see. I know I'm going to win this fight. It's just a matter of how I get it done.”
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Scott Forrest says DeVorn Miller will feel his power Saturday night: “Don't blink because he's splashing!”
“It shows I'm serious”
The opening of the live broadcast, which begins at 7:30 p.m Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+that would be Sam Hickey.
A star amateur boxer from Scotland, Hickey is in only his second professional fight.
But he already faces an ambitious opponent. Hickey will box Louis Howells. Howells was a Wales international as an amateur, and had lost once as a professional, but that came against a good, unbeaten fighter in Kieran Jones.
Hickey accepts the challenge. “It shows I'm serious about this sport, doesn't it? Not many boxers do that in their second fight,” the middleweight boxer said. Sky Sports.
Sam Hickey and Louis Howells after weighing in for Saturday's fight
“Obviously I come from a good family in the amateur world, but this shows what I'm about. I'm looking to fight guys who are coming to win and I think that will be in my favour.
“The guy is decent enough but if he wants to win, he'll be walking shots rather than a guy on his bike.”
Hickey was an impressive boxer from Great Britain, winning bronze at the European Championships and gold at the Commonwealth Games. The withdrawal of his weight class from the Olympics prevents Hickey from pursuing a place in Paris 2024.
The Scot plans to defeat Howells and chase more opportunities as a professional.
“Every fighter is dangerous,” Hickey said. “I don't want to mess around. I'm here. It's work. I need to put on a good performance and get people talking about me.”
“What I want to get to in boxing is to beat guys like that. It's good to test myself against someone like that so early in my career.
“There will be a lot of people watching the game, and I hope there will be a lot of Scots. I'm looking forward to it.”
Watch Callum Simpson defend his titles against Steed Woodall and world champion Caroline Dubois takes on Jessica Kamara on Saturday live. Sky Sports From 7:30 p.m.