THE RESULT: British-based Australian Skye Nicolson picks up the vacant WBC Featherweight title defeating Denmark’s Sarah Mafoud by unanimous decision. Two judges awarded a shut-out (100-90) to the former Olympian while the third saw the bout 99-91 in her favour.
KEY MOMENTS: Nicolson’s left hand in the first two-rounds was the eye-catching shot between the two fighters. Mafoud’s tactics of steaming in played right into her opponent’s hands who judged the distance to pick off the Dane. Nicolson asserted a dominance which left Mafoud looking defeated as she sat down on her stool at the end of the fourth. Mafoud landed nothing significant throughout the contest.
RECORDS: Nicolson moves into double figures, 10-0 (1). Mafoud, who suffered her second loss, drops to 14-2 (3).
TALKING POINT: Amanda Serrano. The Puerto Rican star holds the remaining three belts and vacated the WBC title because of her insistence that she fights over 12×3 minute rounds instead of 10x3s, a demand the WBC were not willing to give into. If Nicolson is to secure an undisputed fight against the 35-year-old, then something has to give.
QUOTABLE: Nicolson, who held the WBC Interim strap going into the fight, explained to DAZN’s Chris Mannix why she refused to be upgraded to full honours after Amanda Serrano vacated the title. “I wasn’t going to be deprived of this moment, I wanted this moment in the ring.”
In regards to Serrano’s desire to compete over 12 rounds, the new champion expressed her readiness by stating, “I am prepared whenever she is. My goal is to attain the belts. This is not a personal matter with Amanda, but I am prepared whenever she gives the signal. It amuses me that she chose to wait until I became her mandatory to express her preference. I deeply respect the WBC’s regulations, which is why I fought for the WBC belt. However, if the only way to face Amanda Serrano is by engaging in 12 rounds of 3 minutes each, I encourage you to communicate with my team, and we will make it a reality.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Nicolson would love nothing more than to face Serrano but more financially rewarding bouts, such as a rematch against Katie Taylor, may lie ahead for the latter. An alternative option for Nicolson in the meantime could be the WBC’s number five contender Raven Chapman. At a recent show the two faced off which added to their growing rivalry.
