Let’s be clear. No one expected an upset. It was her third title defense, and Skye Nicolson was the overwhelming favorite to win the fight. However, in front of a packed house at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, on a George Kambosos Jr.–Jake Wyllie headlined Matchroom Card, turning the tables on Nicolson, former police officer Tiara Brown squeezed out a narrow win. Technical finesse and fluid movement succumbing to relentless pressure.
With Brown as the new WBC featherweight champion, Nicolson’s ambition to face Amanda Serrano now hangs in the balance. Last year, she fulfilled her dream and occupied the WBC title that was left vacant after Serrano, following disagreements over 12 3-minute round fights for women, relinquished it. Dejected by the narrow loss, the former champion reflected during an interview with the Ring magazine.
Skye Nicolson: Not my best self in the ring
“I don’t think it’s probably fully sunk in yet, um, but it’s elite sport; you can show up and look a million dollars in the gym every day for 10 weeks, and it doesn’t come together on the night. Um, I definitely didn’t feel myself in there,” said a somber Skye Nicolson when asked about her reaction to the loss.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – MAY 29: Skye Nicolson poses during a portrait session at The Southport Spit on May 29, 2021 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Expressing confidence that she would come back stronger, Nicolson credited Tiara Brown for her performance. It was Brown’s moment to shine. Not particularly surprised by anything her opponent did, Nicolson admitted feeling ‘a little bit flat’ and that Brown executed her game plan well.
She struggled to find her usual rhythm and ended up fighting Brown’s fight instead of her own. “I thought it was a close fight; I thought it probably could have gone either way. Um, I didn’t feel like you could have complained either way, but she got the nod, and um, that’s boxing,” Skye Nicolson emphasized. It was in October 2022, when she won the Commonwealth title, that Nicolson last fought in Australia. Therefore, losing in front of home supporters after such a long wait felt especially heartbreaking.
The bout that ushered in a new champion
Skye Nicholson kicked off the fight in style. Using body shots and prompt movements, the crafty southpaw managed to keep the 36-year-old challenger on the backfoot. It appeared as if Nicolson was gaining ground. But Brown came with a clear game plan. As the fight entered mid-rounds, she started making inroads.
It was a fight between a swarmer and a boxer. Soon it turned into a mid-off ring clinch affair. Using her jabs Nicolson tried her best to keep Brown away. But the former Fort Myers PD officer just kept on coming. By the sixth round, her output started having its effect. With each passing minute, referee Joel Scobie found himself more occupied trying to break up the two fighters. Skye Nicolson had her moments. However, with improved accuracy, Tiara Brown landed her combinations cleanly on Nicolson’s head and body.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 04: Skye Nicolson reacts after defeating Tania Alvarez during their WBC featherweight eliminator fight at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on February 04, 2023 in New York City Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire BOXING: FEB 04 Nicolson vs Alvarez Icon23020413517
As her jabs and body shots fell short against Brown’s sustained aggression, Nicolson resorted to clinching to stifle the attack. In the twelfth round abandoning he trademark stick and move technique, she decided to fight on the inside. It looked like Tiara Brown had come prepared for such a moment. Keeping up the pressure, she used her right to keep Nicolson at bay. Then, during the pockets, she would thrust body combos.
The strategy clearly worked in her favor. Visibly impressed with her performance, two of the judges scored in her favor, 96-94, and 97-93. However, to the third judge, Skye Nicolson had done enough to retain her title, scoring the fight 96-94 in her favor.
During the Ring Interview, Nicolson felt that Brown didn’t get the best version of her in the fight. Therefore, since she gave Brown this opportunity, she hoped she would be granted the same courtesy for a rematch.
Did you watch the Nicolson-Brown fight? What’s your opinion about the final outcome?
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