LONDON – Bo Mi Re Shin has warned Caroline Dubois that she is a different fighter to the one who lost to Delfine Persoon in 2023.

South Korea’s Shin on Friday becomes Dubois’ second challenger since her elevation to the status of WBC lightweight champion, and is widely considered a significant underdog, largely because of the perception her limitations were demonstrated in her second of two defeats, by Persoon.

Shin, 30, fought that night with little defensive awareness against so physical a fighter, and to the extent that the talented Dubois would perhaps be expected to repeatedly punish her if she fights the same way at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

She lost that fight via split decision, albeit via unusual scores of 96-94, 92-98 and 93-97, but insists that she has since learned of the need for more composure and subtlety, and even believes that Dubois’ relative inexperience as a professional – the champion, 24, enters her 12th fight; Shin her 24th – will undermine her.

“Since then I’ve improved a lot,” she told BoxingScene via an interpreter. “I’m a lot calmer and more stable now, compared to before. Before, I was thinking too much ahead, and getting in there without being strategic. Now I’ve calmed down; I’m a lot more strategic. I’ve improved quite a bit. 

“[Dubois and Persoon are] two completely different fighters. It’s difficult to say who’s better or not, because their styles are totally different.

“I’ve been vying for a world title since my debut [in 2016] – it’s been a long time coming. That’s why when this opportunity came up, this was it for me. ‘Finally, I’m here, for a world title.’

“Since over a year ago we’ve been talking about getting a fight with Caroline. The talks have been going on for a little while.

“It’s finally here. On both fronts. The fact that it’s got a world title on the line, and I also know Caroline Dubois to be a good fighter. On both fronts, ‘Yes, this is finally here’. 

“She uses footwork, but also does a lot of work on the inside. That’s what I’ve seen. She’s still young, and she still lacks experience, compared to me.”

Dubois-Shin represents the chief support to the welterweight unification title fight between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price that headlines an all-female promotion on the eve of International Women’s Day. 

The British fight scene – and promoters Boxxer and broadcaster Sky Sports – values women’s boxing perhaps more than any other, potentially making Friday’s fight transformative for Shin, should she emerge with victory. 

“Boxing as a sport itself is not as popular in Korea,” she said. “Women’s boxing, obviously, it follows that it’s not as popular. 

“People in the boxing scene know [about women’s boxing], but broadly, it’s not advertised as it would be here. 

“I’ll show a really great match on Friday night. It will be a good one for me.”