Skye Nicolson will face Denmark’s Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC featherweight world championship after Amanda Serrano vacated the title.
Serrano held all four belts in the 126-pound division but, late on Monday, announced she would be relinquishing the WBC title in protest of the sanctioning body’s unwillingness to allow women to fight 12 three-minute rounds.
The Puerto Rican’s decision has seen the WBC call for Nicolson to take on former IBF champion and current WBC silver title holder, Mahfoud.
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Nicolson is currently the interim champion with the organization, having defeated Sabrina Maribel Perez in August before defending the title with a stoppage victory over Lucy Wildheart in Dublin last month.
The Australian southpaw had been calling for a shot at Serrano but now looks unlikely to get that fight, at least in the immediate future.
A WBC letter, shared to social media by Nicolson, revealed her team and Mahfoud’s have until mid-January to come to an agreement or a purse bid would be called.
“The WBC Women's Championship Committee hereby officially orders the WBC Women's World Featherweight Championship between interim World Champion Skye Nicholson (Australia) and Silver Champion Sarah Mahfoud (Denmark),” the letter read.
“We hereby kindly ask you to start free negotiations to find an agreement regarding the conditions (date, place, purses etc.) for this important fight.
“We are looking forward to hearing from you and receiving signed contracts on or before Friday, January 12th, 2024.”
Mahfoud, 34, has a 14-1 record as a professional, having been elevated to full champion with the IBF in 2020.
She then defended that title once before running into Serrano in August last year, dropping a unanimous decision.
That fight saw Serrano add the IBF to her WBC and WBO titles before she completed the set with the WBA in her next fight against Erika Cruz.
The 35-year-old defended the undisputed championship once before making history in October when defeating Danila Ramos over 12 three-minute rounds in a world title defense, although the WBC belt wasn’t on the line on that occasion.
While men’s title fights are currently scheduled for 12 three-minute rounds, female championship bouts are held over 10 two-minute rounds.
In the lead-up to the Serrano-Cruz fight, WBC boss Mauricio Sulaiman explained his organization’s position on the matter to Chris Mannix.
“Tennis - women play three sets, basketball the basket is shorter and the ball smaller, and those are not contact sports. We stand by safety and well-being of the fighters,” Sulaiman said.
In announcing she was dropping the strap, Serrano went on to suggest any future opponents would need to take her on over 12 three-minute rounds.
“If you want to face me in the ring, you have a choice. I’ve made mine,” she added