Skye Nicolson is a boxing world champion and the budding Australian superstar is now looking ahead to even bigger and better things.
The 28-year-old from Meadowbrook was simply brilliant as she pretty much shut out Sarah Mahfoud with a dominant performance to claim the WBC world featherweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday night (live on DAZN).
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Skye prevailed by scores of 100-90, 100-90 and 99-91 to improve her perfect professional record to 10-0, and is already now being lined up for a spectacular homecoming fight back in Australia.
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed he is planning talks with Australian authorities as early as this week in a bid to deliver Nicolson’s return – before targeting huge fights with the likes of mandatory WBC challenger Raven Chapman and division ruler Amanda Serrano later this year.
Eddie Hearn on Nicolson next fight
“I now need to speak to people in Australia because she needs that homecoming defence quite quickly,” said Hearn, speaking to Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel.
“Skye barely broke sweat in there. She was very impressive and loads more to come from her. I didn’t give Mahfoud a round, but one judge did.
“I think you’re only seeing 20% of Skye Nicolson. I’ve seen her train and I’ve watched her spar where she’s hurting girls repeatedly. But how can you criticise her when she’s beating the No.2 ranked featherweight in the world in a mismatch?
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“We all want excitement and I want to see her letting her hands go a bit more and stopping people. I know it’s there and I know she can do it.
“But she’s winning so easily, and her style is a nightmare for people. That’s why people like [Amanda] Serrano don’t really want to take the fight until the money is out of control because it is high risk. Her feet, her movement is really good and if she can start letting her hands go – because she can punch – then she’s going to be even more tough to beat.”
Nicolson vs Raven Chapman?
With an immediate world title defence Down Under being Hearn’s preference for Matchroom’s latest World Champion, he admitted a massive Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight could be in the works too against Chapman.
“Raven Chapman is the mandatory and that’s the fight I’ll speak to George Warren about because there will be another 5-v-5 later on in the year – and it’s exactly the sort of fight we should be looking to put on,” he added.
“To beat Sarah Mahfoud far more convincingly than Amanda Serrano did is a major statement.
“Skye’s doing what any champion should do and that is to chase the very best in their division – and for her right now it is Amanda Serrano.
“I want to see her make a homecoming defence, then fight Raven Chapman and then hopefully the fight with Amanda Serrano becomes big enough for her to accept.”
Skye Nicolson on special night
Nicolson is now Australia’s second current reigning World Champion alongside Matchroom’s king of the Cruiserweights, Jai Opetaia – and the enormity of it all is still sinking in.
“It sounds pretty good, I really do like the sound of it,” she said.
“When I heard my name being read out as the winner, it was exactly how I imagined it and how I’ve played it out in my mind leading up to the fight. It was very special.
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“But it’s not the pinnacle for me. I know this is the first of many – and there will be many more and I’m very excited for where I’m headed.
“With [Amanda] Serrano, it’s nothing personal. If you don’t want to fight me then that’s fine. But let us know what you’re doing with all the belts because I want them. But if you do want to fight, I’m ready when you are.
“It would be a dream come true to fight in Australia, especially in Brisbane or the Gold Coast. I’m a Queensland girl through and through.
“To bring the World Title to my home country and fight in front of all my family and friends would be amazing – and the start of a really special journey. I’m a true blue Aussie and it would mean absolutely everything to me.”
