All three judges scored it 100-90 for Thibeault, who moved to 5-0 with three knockouts. Robinson dropped to 12-4 after losing the championships she brought into the ring.
Thibeault established control with her reach and quicker hands, keeping Robinson on the outside and landing the cleaner punches. Robinson tried to turn the fight into something rougher by pressing forward, but getting inside without taking shots proved difficult.
The fight became considerably messier after a clash of heads left Thibeault bleeding heavily from the nose. Blood covered her face through portions of the later rounds, giving Robinson an opportunity to increase the pressure.
It wasn’t enough.
Thibeault continued boxing through the injury and never surrendered control. Robinson’s willingness to keep attacking made the fight physical, but she couldn’t change its direction. Thibeault remained the more accurate and technically polished fighter through the final bell.
The championship win comes after an extensive amateur career for the 29-year-old from Quebec. Thibeault won gold at the 2022 World Championships, captured Commonwealth and Pan American titles, and represented Canada at two Olympic Games before turning professional.
Her rapid rise now creates an interesting situation at middleweight. Kaye Scott owns the WBA and WBC championships and faces Claressa Shields on August 15 in Atlanta.
A Shields victory would immediately create interest in a fight with Thibeault for all the major belts. That would be an enormous jump for a boxer with only five professional bouts, regardless of her amateur experience.
MVP doesn’t need to rush it. Thibeault has already demonstrated she belongs at world level. The question now is how long it will be before she’s ready for someone of Shields’ experience and caliber.
