Raven Chapman certain she poses a new test for Skye Nicolson

Skye Nicolson and Raven Chapman have been circling each other for months. 

On Saturday, they will finally come to blows. 

WBC featherweight champion, Nicolson, and Chapman will engage in the first female world title bout to take place in Saudi Arabia. They are also the first women to be given a slot on a star-studded Riyadh Season show. 

Women’s boxing has flourished in recent years but precious few fights are given as significant a stage as this.

Chapman, 9-0 (2 KOs), understands the gravity of the event, but she is determined not to allow the occasion to dwarf her. Chapman is intent on using the opportunity to show boxing fans exactly what she is capable of. 

“It feels amazing. I’m so grateful for this opportunity on such a great show as well,” she told Queensberry. “A big stage, a big platform to really show what I’m about and show why I’m going to be champion and why I’m going to be a great champion as well. Show everyone what I’m made of. How tough I am. How strong I am. How relentless I am. How violent I am.”

Nicolson, 11-0 (1 KO), has proven an expert at avoiding violence to this point in her career.

She has described the fight as “a great clash of styles” which gives as clear an indication as you can get that she is planning on employing her usual style of boxing: jabbing, moving, and negating everything Chapman tries. None of Nicolson’s previous opponents have come close to figuring her out, instead becoming increasingly desperate and ragged as the two-minute long rounds fly by, allowing the Australian to find the target more and more easily.

Chapman has proven to be a strong, fit and well rounded fighter so far but there has never been a boxer who has stepped into the world-class level without a couple of unanswered questions hanging over their head. 

Nicolson hasn’t yet needed to prove that she has the mettle to fight her way out of a dark corner. Chapman needs to show that she has the imagination and skill to take her there. 

Chapman insists that she has always had the qualities she needs to solve the complex puzzles Nicolson sets but that she hasn’t needed to display them yet. 

“She hasn’t been in with Raven Chapman. She’s had fights picked that are very good for her style. I’m not a cherry picked fight. You’ll see a different Raven – well, not a different Raven – it’ll be me but you’ll see just how good and technical I am. How much I’ve got that I haven’t had to show yet because I haven’t needed to. My opponents have been there and wanted to come and fight so I’ll fight them,” she said.

“I’ve barely lost a round in my pro career, just like Skye’s barely lost a round in hers. That’s why it’s such a great fight. We’re both two of the best in our division and we’ll show why we are that on fight night and I’ll show why I’m even better.”

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79