Nicolson outclasses Mafoud to win vacant WBC featherweight title

THE RESULT:ย British-based Australian Skye Nicolson picks up the vacant WBC Featherweight title defeating Denmarkโ€™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: Nicolsonโ€™s left hand in the first two-rounds was the eye-catching shot between the two fighters. Mafoudโ€™s tactics of steaming in played right into her opponentโ€™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:ย 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:ย Nicolson, who held the WBC Interim strap going into the fight, explained to DAZNโ€™s Chris Mannix why she refused to be upgraded to full honours after Amanda Serrano vacated the title. โ€œI wasnโ€™t going to be deprived of this moment, I wanted this moment in the ring.โ€

Speaking about Serrano and her desire to now compete over 12 rounds, the new champion said: โ€œIโ€™m ready when sheโ€™s ready. I want the belts. Itโ€™s nothing personal with Amanda but Iโ€™m ready when you are. I find it funny she waited until I was her mandatory to decide thatโ€™s what she wanted to do. I respect the WBCโ€™s rules thatโ€™s why I boxed for the WBC belt but if the only way to fight Amanda Serrano is over 12×3 minute rounds [then] talk to my team [and] weโ€™ll make it happen.”


WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?ย 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.

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