Skye Nicolson vs. Tiara Brown: Big Fight Preview & Prediction

Skye Nicolson vs. Tiara Brown: Big Fight Preview & Prediction

Skye Nicolson heads into yet another fight week with an unbeaten opponent ready and waiting for her. An opponent who is yet again expected to be the ultimate test for the unbeaten and largely untouchable WBC featherweight champion of the world. Tiara Brown has been beyond vocal about wanting to fight Nicolson. This Saturday in Sydney, the American will get her wish.

Unbeaten in eighteen fights as a professional and with an extensive amateur resume behind her, Brown certainly comes with some solid credentials. A fight that she has long craved is finally here. But it might be a case of be careful what you wish for.

Despite the impressive record, the odds say that Brown will be yet another victim of the elusive Nicolson. Another opponent that will be left bewildered and frustrated by what she finds when Nicolson is standing in front of them. Or, more accurately, nowhere in sight when you are trying to land punches of your own.

Nicolson is 1-10 to retain her WBC featherweight bauble for the third time. For reference purposes, Raven Chapman was given more of a chance when she fought Nicolson last year in the first female fight to take place on the riches that is Riyadh Season. Nicolson won going away. A difficult fight on paper was ridiculously easy in reality. There is every chance that Tiara Brown will suffer the exact same fate. Certainly, the betting odds suggest that.

Nicolson is respectful of what Brown brings, but equally, that patented confidence in her own ability very much remains. In truth, the belief in her own ability only heightens with every fight.

“I think that is a great fight,” Nicolson told me late last year. “She is an undefeated fighter with a high KO ratio. She was a World Amateur Champion. Tiara can fight. People will think this is a potential banana skin fight for me. But I’ll make her look silly, turn her on her head, smile at her, be in cruise control, and win a wide and unanimous points decision. Then they will say Tiara was old. Tiara was done. It will be something, but that’s alright, I’ll just keep doing it.”

The odds and that Nicolson’s impressive self-confidence could be very wide of the mark. Tiara Brown could just be that fighter to take Nicolson into the kind of deep waters that she won’t survive. Some will say that Nicolson hasn’t been tested yet. That would ring true in her professional career. But after over 150 amateur fights, it would be deeply insulting to suggest Nicolson hasn’t had to dig deep to win a fight.

A win over Brown will give the Australian win number thirteen as a professional. If that victory comes with the same degree of comfort as the majority of the previous twelve, the Skye Nicolson naysayers will then look for who could be the one to derail a fighter who seemingly has a few more gears to show.

I remember her trusted trainer Eddie Lam telling me before her world title fight with Sarah Mahfoud last year. “Don’t be fooled by how she looks. Believe me when I say Skye Nicolson is never happier than when she’s punching someone in the face.” The problem so far is that her opponents have extreme difficulty in punching her in the face. Finding someone to change that narrative has been problematic. At least to this point.

Karriss Artingstall, who ended the medal hopes of Nicolson in the Tokyo Olympics, returned to action earlier this month impressively beating Raven Chapman on the Boxxer all-female card at the Royal Albert Hall. Nicolson was ringside commentating for Sky Sports. A fight between Nicolson and Artingstall is an easy sell with a built-in storyline.

The unified world super-bantamweight world champion Ellie Scotney has expressed her desire to move up to featherweight to fight Nicolson. As previously written, a fight between Nicolson and Scotney ticks many boxes and is a fight both need for different reasons. Both Artingstall and Scotney would represent a significant threat to Nicolson. Although Nicolson would still start a significant betting favourite to win both fights.

But before any talk of what lies ahead, Tiara Brown should not be overlooked. A vocal American who clearly fancies it. A fighter who believes she will be the one to succeed where others have failed. A fighter with plenty of stoppages on her resume. But does her level of opposition so far, flatter her somewhat. The Australian is a level or two above anything the American has faced previously. Would Tiara Brown beat Raven Chapman? I have my doubts. Talk and reality, are often two completely different things.

At 29, Nicolson hasn’t yet reached her peak. She will surely only get better. Brown might well be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If Nicolson is in the mood to go through the gears, Brown could be in real danger of not seeing the final bell. The betting markets have Nicolson at around 8-1 to win inside the distance. That might be worth considering despite Nicolson only stopping one opponent so far in her professional run.

Fighting on home turf, Nicolson will surely look to put on a show. Brown is likely to suffer the very same fate as Raven Chapman did last year. A realisation that finding the target isn’t quite as simplistic as many would think. If Brown gets a good start, and she desperately needs one, then it might get interesting. But Brown is far more likely to see the fight lost before she has even got started. Nicolson has a habit of putting rounds in the bank very quickly. And with minimal investment in her energy reserves. A wide victory on points for Nicolson is the favoured outcome. I think Brown might win the odd round but nowhere near enough to threaten the upset.

There is that feeling that with every passing victory, excuses are made for the opponent rather than plaudits for what Skye Nicolson has just served up. All the Australian lacks is widespread appreciation for her unique skills. In time, you suspect even that will come. It should.