Australian boxing sensation Skye Nicolson has surrendered her WBC featherweight title following a closely contested split decision against American Tiara Brown. The bout took place in Sydney, as part of the event headlined by George Kambosos Jr vs Jake Wyllie, marking Nicolson’s attempt to defend her title for a third time on home turf.
In a fight that didn’t end as Nicolson had hoped, the judges scored it 94-96, 96-94, and 97-93 in favour of her opponent, Brown. The outcome left Nicolson visibly disappointed, while Brown celebrated elatedly, collapsing to the ground in joy as her team cheered her newfound championship.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn weighed in on the fight, suggesting he believed Nicolson might have edged the match, especially when it went to the score of the Australian judge, Phil Austin. He remarked that Nicolson perhaps made the tactical error of engaging in Brown’s preferred style of fighting, resulting in the contest becoming a brawl rather than a showcase of Nicolson’s skills. Hearn specifically noted Nicolson’s excellent body work but emphasised that she failed to use her footwork effectively.
Despite his initial optimism that an Australian judge might favour Nicolson, the final score tilted decisively for Brown, highlighting a significant moment in her career. Hearn acknowledged that while this night belonged to Brown, there remains hope for Nicolson’s future, alluding to the potential for another opportunity to reclaim her title.
As Nicolson reflects on this setback, the boxing community will be keenly watching her next steps in what has already been a promising but challenging journey in the sport.