TEAM GB boxing sensation Caroline Dubois took a giant leap towards the Summer Olympics with a qualifier win in her first ever senior bout.
The reigning Junior Olympics champ stepped up to face Belarus ace Ala Staradub and wowed the Copperbox with the sublime southpaw skills that secured her a 40-0 amateur record.
Caroline Dubois put on an impressive performance at the Copper Box ArenaCredit: Rex Features
The 19-year-old confidently won her first ever senior boutCredit: Rex Features
The 19-year-old sister of British heavyweight king Daniel started her 60kgs bout well scoring with jabs, lead right hooks and a straight left.
Staradab was always charging forward but the wonderkid was not for wilting and dominated the opener on the back foot.
The second round was not as pretty, as both women tired but all the judges gave the round to Dubois as she was harder to hit and connected with a selection of her own punches.
And the third session was an exercise in seeing out an elite-level victory as the freakishly talented teenager finished the fight and got her hand raised.
The red-hot prospect said: “This is the first fight, it is always the worst one and I can be better.”
Big bro Daniel, who faces 2016 Olympic silver winner Joe Joyce on April 11, tweeted: “First one down, well done Caroline”.
The reigning BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year has only just begun her uphill battle, however.
Next up is No1 seed and 39-year-old veteran Mira Potkonen who won a bronze in Rio by beating Irish icon Katie Taylor.
But the dream teen is far from worried.
Dubois said: “She only has two arms, two legs and one brain, same as I have. And to be the best, you have to beat the best”.
But Dubois will avoid what was considered a tough fight with 35-year-old pro and former five-year WBC champion Delfine Persoon in the semis.
A rule change meant paid fighters could compete in Tokyo and Persoon, who was handed a controversial points loss to Taylor in June, was targeting Tokyo.
But, moments after Dubois got her win, the Belgian veteran and former policewoman was beaten on points and out of the competition.
Meanwhile Frazer Clarke walked through his first Tokyo 2020 qualifier after his opponent’s dreams went down the toilet.
Clemente Russo, the 37-year-old Italian veteran who beat Deontay Wilder at the 2008 games to land a silver, pulled out of their super-heavyweight clash after stomach trouble kept him in his hotel room.
Clarke, 28, will now be fresh for the next round at East London’s CopperBox having gone through without throwing or shipping a single punch.
Gutted Russo wrote on social media: “Hi guys, soon I should have been going to the ring to play the first qualifying match for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Caroline Dubois was praised by her big pro on Twitter after the winCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“Unfortunately and with regret, you won’t see me fight today. Due to poor digestion I am stuck in the room for 24 hours.
“I tried to train, I tried to react but I am somewhat debilitated and will not allow me to play the match.
“I tried to recover but I am debilitated and will not allow me to play the match.”
Fans fear for Joe Joyce as Daniel Dubois shows off his explosive power in training ahead of all-British boxing showdown
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
