Australia’s Skye Nicolson remains adamant she is the woman to dethrone Amanda Serrano at featherweight, even if the Puerto Rican superstar has other plans.
Nicolson improved to 9-0 in less than two years as a professional when she defended her interim WBC featherweight title against Lucy Wildheart in Dublin at the weekend.
The Queenslander recorded her first stoppage victory in what was a career-best performance.
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Nicolson has been lining up a fight with Serrana since making the switch to the pros and, following the win over Wildheart, has taken another opportunity to call out the 35-year-old.
“Obviously I want the Serrano fight. She’s the champion in my division,’ Nicolson said on The MMA Hour.
“I want to be world champion, I want to prove to the world that I’m the best and I want to do that by beating the best.
“I want to fight the best, that’s why I’m calling her out. I want to show my level, I want to prove that I’m worthy. That’s why I call her out, it’s never out of disrespect.”
While Nicolson has made fairly light work of her nine professional opponents to date, some believe Serrano could be a bridge too far.
With a record of 46-2-1, Serrano’s only defeat in more than a decade came at the hands of arguably the greatest female boxer of all time, Katie Taylor.
On that occasion, Serrano jumped up two weight classes for an undisputed versus undisputed clash which Taylor edged via split decision.
Nicolson acknowledges she would go in the underdog but remains confident she can deal with the pressure and power which has helped Serrano record 30 knockouts.
“I know that 90 per cent of people write me off in that fight and I do not care,” Nicolson said.
“I believe I win that fight, my team believes that I win that fight. My style is all wrong for her, I keep saying this.
“She’s very aggressive, very strong but she’s flat-footed.
“She’s got slow feet and she looks good against someone who stands and trades with her and that’s not what I would do.
“I would use angles, I would box and move, I would set traps, I’ll walk her onto shots, I’ll have her walking into the ropes and making her look silly.”
However, while Nicolson feels she has the beating of Serrano, she remains doubtful of ever getting the chance to prove it.
On Tuesday, Serrano responded to a clip of the Aussie southpaw calling her out, pouring cold water on the potential fight.
I have other plans & a full schedule
— Amanda Serrano (@Serranosisters) November 27, 2023
GoodLuck to her 😉🙏
It’s not yet clear what direction Serrano intends to go in, although a rematch with Taylor would no doubt trump a fight with Nicolson.
Taylor however may be tied up with a trilogy fight against Chantelle Cameron, with the ledger squared at one each after the Irish legend claimed victory in their rematch at the weekend.
Nicolson is hoping the WBC will soon confirm her as the mandatory challenger for Serrano, forcing a fight between the pair, or a vacating of the belt.
“She doesn’t think I’m ready for her. She doesn’t think I’ve earned my place but I’m going to be her mandatory challenger and it’s going to be up to her,” Nicolson said.
“I don’t see any other fight at 126 [pounds] that makes sense for her.”
Having had an extremely active start to life as a professional, and recently making the call to stick in the paid ranks rather than resume her dream of chasing Olympic gold in Paris 2024, Nicolson is eyeing off a short break.
The 28-year-old would like to action in April, unless the Serrano fight popped up.
“Beggars can’t be choosers at this point, I want the fight, anywhere, anytime,” she added.
“I just want the opportunity to show the world.
“Anywhere in the world.
“I know Matchroom have had talks with governments in Australia about having the fight in Australia, which I think would be amazing, but I would happily fight anywhere in the world.
“I think I’ve proven that in my nine fights in six different countries.”