Skye Nicolson: Dublin & One Final Push In The Search For A World Title

Skye Nicolson: Dublin & One Final Push In The Search For A World Title

For Skye Nicolson, this Saturday night in Dublin could be her last dance before a world title fight that looks seemingly set in stone for the early part of 2024. A win over Lucy Wildheart would almost certainly result in the Australian fighting for the WBC featherweight title proper in her next fight, either in vacant form or her preferred choice, a meeting with the current undisputed champion Amanda Serrano.

The future of Serrano as the WBC bauble holder does appear to be in some doubt. Her stance on only wanting to fight three-minute rounds going forward is at odds with the WBC viewpoint on the matter. The WBC has steadfastly refused to move on all-female bouts, being any longer than having two-minute rounds. Unless there is movement on either side, the likelihood is that Mauricio Sulaiman will be forced into making a decision on Serrano sooner rather than later. Nicolson, if she overcomes Wildheart in Ireland, will likely have to move ahead without the future Hall of Famer.

But before thoughts turn to what lies ahead, Nicolson will have to get past Lucy Wildheart. The odds that have the former Olympian a hefty 1-12 odds on favourite might be a little harsh on Wildheart, but they do indicate the lofty expectations on Nicolson. But her opponent shouldn’t be overlooked.

Wildheart has only two defeats in twelve fights as a professional, both at lightweight to Estelle Mossely and Mikaela Mayer. The natural featherweight was far from disgraced in either fight. Wildheart was a shade unlucky against Mossely. She lost a decision that was up for at least some debate in 2019, and even when she took the fight on 24 hours’ notice in April against Mayer, Wildheart made the American work for her victory. It was only in the closing rounds that Mayer asserted her dominance. At featherweight, she could easily be one of the division’s best-kept secrets, and she is by far the toughest test to date for the Australian in her professional career. At 6-1, Wildheart could be outstanding value. She is most definitely a live underdog
At the very least.

But Nicolson could just be on another level. Gliding her way virtually untouched to eight wins since she left her amateur days behind in 2022, Nicolson looks like a fighter seemingly destined for world titles. Last time out against Sabrina Maribel Perez in Mexico, she showed a few more signs of her ongoing evolution in winning the WBC Interim featherweight title. At 28, that evolution will undoubtedly go on. She is nowhere near the finished article. Nicolson has repeatedly told me that we have only seen glimpses of her full potential.

Wildheart will head to Dublin with real ambitions of her own. A win and her career changes in an instant. But I do believe Nicolson will rise to another level, and her opponent’s style could be made for her. But she will likely still have to work hard for her victory. But that will do Nicolson no harm going forward. It is, in many ways, the perfect fight for her.

If, as expected, those long odds in her favour on Saturday night are justified, then Skye Nicolson will enter 2024 with real hope that her next fight could be the most important fight of her life. Serrano or not, she will get her maiden world title opportunity if she defends that WBC Interim featherweight title in Ireland. The manner of any victory over Wildheart will tell us plenty about her chances of getting to wear that WBC world title around her waist.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing