History-making Skye Nicolson’s sights set much closer to home

Skye Nicolson is on the eve of making history in Saudi Arabia, but it is a homecoming fight in Australia she craves.

On Saturday the 29-year-old will attempt to defend her WBC featherweight title against Raven Chapman on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh, and will therefore feature in the country’s first fight for a women’s world title.

If the Kingdom is to succeed in rebuilding its image as a less oppressive society, the time may come when Nicolson and Chapman – 30 years old and from England – are recognised as contributing a major part.

For all that she recognises the potential benefits in doing so, however, Nicolson is more focused on her target of defending her title in Australia. She is from Meadowbrook, Queensland, and in the event of victory intends on pushing her promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, to make her ambition real.

“I want to take big fights home to Australia,” she told BoxingScene. “I’ve said that all along, for my whole career. I fought for my first title – the Commonwealth title – back at the end of 2022, so to defend my world title on home soil would be very special for me, but for my family and fans as well. It’s something I’m going to keep pushing, and hopefully we can get that over the line in the near future.

“It’s a conversation I’m almost bored of having, to be honest. I ask and ask and ask, but we haven’t been back there for a while. I know that Eddie wants to do a homecoming for me and [Liam] Paro; it’s just about the right opponents, the right date, and making it make sense for everyone. I was really, really hoping that I would get to fight at home before the end of 2024, but obviously that’s nearing now, and it doesn’t seem likely that it’s gonna happen with Paro fighting [Richardson Hitchins] in Puerto Rico in December. That makes me feel like that’s not happening anymore.

“The conversations are definitely being had. But the when, where, how it all happens is all still up in the air. 

“I was disappointed. But I understand it from a business point of view. Australia, and the Australian public, just don’t give boxing the support – the recognition – that it needs and it deserves. Especially with the world champions that we have coming out of our country; we’re not really backed by the Australian government or by the Australian public, unfortunately, which does make it hard for Matchroom to take a show there when other cities are willing to pay up and, I guess, make better fights.

“Probably after every fight my team talks to Matchroom about a homecoming. But I understand it from a business point of view and it has to make sense for everyone – but we’ll keep pushing. 

“My chief ambition is to be undisputed champion of the world. I want to bring big fights home to Australia, and it is important to me, and I will keep pushing for it. But my goal remains to be undisputed world champion.”

That the Saudi Arabian culture continues to limit women’s rights potentially leaves Nicolson, Chapman and others who accept the increased purses on offer there open to criticism. 

She was asked if, in the modern era when fighters have become so accessible, she had been criticised for doing so. She also revealed that she is yet to meet the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh.

“From what I’ve seen – not that I sit and scroll through every comment – I haven’t really seen any negative criticism about fighting out here,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of positive stuff, and a lot of people saying that this has been a long time coming and this is a movement in the right direction for women in Saudi Arabia; for women in boxing. So it’s been quite a positive reaction and experience so far.

“I haven’t met him yet. I assume I will this week, but I haven’t actually spoken to him yet.

“I’ve honestly had a really positive experience out here. Everyone I’ve met has made me feel very welcome; it’s been nothing but positivity from the male and female Saudis that I’ve met. I feel like I’m in a very empowering position, to inspire the women here. I’ve met a few of the Saudi boxers – the young up-and-coming boxers in the boxing gyms here. I feel like I’m really inspiring that next generation; I’ve only felt positive things about fighting over here.

“Apart from the main event, the female fight’s probably been the most talked about fight. We’ve had the most media attention. Which I think’s great; it’s great for women’s boxing; it’s great for Raven and I. It’s giving us the spotlight; it’s giving women’s boxing the spotlight it deserves, and that’s probably been missing and needed, especially from these Riyadh Season cards. It’s all been very positive for women’s boxing, and for myself and my own career, and for the people of Saudi Arabia as well.”

Nicolson, who won her title against Sarah Mahfoud and defended it against Dyana Vargas, is the favourite for Saturday’s fight. Chapman is considerably less proven at world level, but she has, unlike Nicolson, previously fought in the Middle East – in 2022 she outpointed Fatuma Yazidu at Yume Nightclub in Dubai.

“She’s a good fighter,” Nicolson continued. “I just don’t think she’s as good as me. She’s aggressive; quite relentless; strong; powerful; a bit of a brawler. Which are all things that will complement my style. 

“She’s got slow feet. She falls in; she rushes her work; she doesn’t set her shots up, and she’s very easy to hit.

“I see what’s coming before it comes. I find her quite easy to read, and I think she’s gonna be there for me to hit all night long.”