Skye Nicolson hit the jackpot, notching up her tenth win and seizing the WBC World Featherweight Champion title by outclassing Sarah Mahfoud on Saturday night.
Eddie Hearn, the bigwig behind the scenes, is itching to parade Australia’s freshly minted boxing royalty back home for a victory lap in the ring, eyeing a blockbuster bout on her own turf.
Nicolson, with a flawless record of 10-0, reigned supreme at the luxurious Fontainebleau Las Vegas Resort. She clinched the prized green and gold strap, leaving the judges no choice but to hand her a unanimous nod with scores that screamed domination: 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91, against the former IBF champ Mahfoud.
In doing so, the 28-year-old phenom redeemed Aussie honor and shattered the Vegas curse that loomed over her countrymen, Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa, in their recent outings.
Eddie Hearn, the top dog at Matchroom Sport, is already scheming meetings with the Australian bigwigs, aiming to set the stage for Nicolson’s hero’s welcome back in the ring, before lining up titanic clashes against the likes of Raven Chapman, the mandatory WBC challenger, and the division’s queen bee, Amanda Serrano.
Hearn, dishing the dirt to Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube audience, couldn’t help but rave about Nicolson’s performance. “She breezed through that fight,” he said, barely containing his excitement. “Sure, she didn’t let the fists fly as much as we’d like, but when you’re schooling the world’s second-ranked featherweight without breaking a sweat, who are we to nitpick?”
He teased that we’ve only glimpsed a fraction of Nicolson’s true might, hinting at her sparring sessions where she’s been known to batter her partners with relentless precision. “She’s got a style that’s a total nightmare for anyone, which is why the big names are playing hard to get unless the cash piles up. But mark my words, if she starts unloading those punches, she’ll be an unstoppable force.”
With plans for Nicolson to defend her title on home soil, Hearn is also eyeing a potential mega-fight with Chapman in a Matchroom vs. Queensberry showdown. “Chapman’s next in line, and that’s a battle we’re eager to arrange.” he added.
Nicolson’s victory, more resounding than Serrano’s own triumph over Mahfoud, sends a loud message across the featherweight division. “She’s on a mission to take on the division’s elite, and Serrano’s firmly in her sights. We’re plotting a homecoming bout, a showdown with Chapman, and then, fingers crossed, a blockbuster against Serrano.”
As Australia’s second reigning world champ, alongside cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia, Nicolson is basking in her triumph but remains hungry for more. “Hearing my name announced as the champ was surreal, just as I’ve dreamed. But this is just the beginning,” she declared, her sights set on a historic bout on Australian soil, especially in her beloved Queensland.
Bringing the world title fight to Australia, before her family and friends, is more than a personal milestone for Nicolson; it’s the dawn of an extraordinary journey. “I’m as Aussie as they come, and to fight at home would mean the world to me.”
Hitchins vs. Lemos full card results
- Richardson Hitchins bt. Gustavo Daniel Lemos; Super lightweight
- Diego Pacheco bt. Shawn McCalman; Super middleweight
- Galal Yafai bt. Agustin Gauto; Flyweight
- Skye Nicolson bt. Sarah Mahfoud; For the vacant WBC women’s featherweight title
- Marc Castro bt. Abraham Montoya; Super featherweight
- Steven Navarro bt. Jose Lopez; Super flyweight
- Harley Mederos bt. Pedro Vicente Scharbaai; Lightweight