Skye Nicolson vs. Ellie Scotney: A Fight That Makes Perfect Sense

Skye Nicolson vs. Ellie Scotney: A Fight That Makes Perfect Sense

You sense that Skye Nicholson and Ellie Scotney could quite happily go about their business without each other. Both are more than capable of going undisputed in their respective weight divisions. But there is still that feeling that for different reasons, they still need each other.

Despite a combined unblemished resume of twenty-two fights, Nicolson and Scotney could still carry that underappreciated label. Their styles may differ, but both are immensely impressive at what they do.

After win number ten on Saturday night in Nottingham against the tough Mea Motu, Scotney called for a fight with the WBC featherweight champion of the world. It is a fight that has been of interest for some time. The WBO, IBF, IBO, and Ring Magazine super-bantamweight champion told me a few weeks ago that Nicolson was a fight that she was interested in.

“Skye and featherweight are definitely of interest. I don’t feel at featherweight that there are the people around that will test Skye. There is Amanda Serrano, but she has no interest in fighting Skye, and you can understand that. I feel I have had the hard fights at super-bantamweight, but you need the names. I want to get my name to stick in people’s minds. I want to make a mark and be remembered.”

But it is also a fight that the unbeaten Australian would entertain, Nicolson told me late last year.

“There are some big fights out there for me. Ellie Scotney is a great fight on paper. I think in terms of a big-money fight, not so much. But there are big money fights outside of my division, which we will look at when I am done with the featherweight division. But until then, the likes of Ellie Scotney and any other name who wants to challenge for titles in the featherweight division, let’s go.”

Nicolson and Scotney do have unfinished business at featherweight and super-bantamweight. Both are quite rightly chasing undisputed status. If given the opportunity, both will undoubtedly achieve that honour. But the politics of the sport do often get in the way.

Skye Nicolson has a fight with the unbeaten American Tiara Brown scheduled for March in Australia. A win over her long-time rival would see Nicolson seeking opponent number fourteen. If unification fights are not on offer for later in the year, Scotney could be a fight of interest to her. The Catford fighter offers her something different in many ways and would be by far her toughest test to date. The Australian often doesn’t get the plaudits that she rightfully deserves. A win over Scotney would certainly help on that score.

But the Shane McGuigan-trained protege would also benefit from a fight with Nicolson. A high-profile showdown with the heavily promoted Nicolson can only enhance the profile of Ellie Scotney. I also agree with Scotney that there appears to be a lack of real competition for Nicolson at featherweight. But that also applies to Scotney at super-bantamweight. Both appear to be untouchable at their natural weight. They just might need each other in that respect.

Both Nicolson and Scotney would benefit from fighting each other. A fight that makes all the sense in the world.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing