Skye Nicolson says she is open to facing Amanda Serrano over 12 three minute rounds if that gets the fight on – and the Australian is targeting a comprehensive win on Saturday night over Serrano’s old Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC Featherweight belt at Bleaulive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN to stake her claim for the mega showdown.

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Nicolson (9-0 1 KO) is fighting Mahfoud (14-1 3 KOs) for the WBC strap that Serrano vacated in December, a move Nicolson has previously stated was due to the seven-weight champion not wanting to face her, and not down to wanting to fight over the 12 three-minute round distance.

The Australian star has landed the World title fight she’s been craving, albeit against tough Dane Mahfoud instead of the Puerto Rican, with that duo previously meeting for undisputed in September 2022, with Serrano prevailing on points.

Although Nicolson has put the Serrano fight to one side to focus on the task at hand, the 28 year old can’t help that it’s a fight that she’s asked about all the time – and aims to deal with Mahfoud in better fashion than Serrano to prove she’s ready to take on the living legend.

“I can only fight who they put in front of me,” said Nicolson. “Serrano is the dream fight, and to have been boxing for undisputed in my tenth fight would have been legendary, but it didn’t happen. It is what it is, I’m not looking past Sarah. I’ve got a good opponent in front of me and it’s for the best belt in boxing in my opinion, so I am fully focused on the job in front of me and we’ll see what’s next after that.

I hope the Serrano fight happens, I am ready and waiting. I want the best; I feel like I am constantly saying it but it’s true. I wanted the Serrano fight in my eighth and ninth fights, I have Sarah for my tenth fight, so maybe it’s Serrano in my 11th fight, who knows? I want the belts, so I am going to keep pushing for that.

“12 x 3s suits my style. I’m a patient fighter, I love the longer rounds so for me it makes sense. For women’s boxing, I personally don’t agree with 12 x 3s; I think the depth of women’s boxing, 10 x 2s has been really good for the growth. It’s kept it exciting, and you’ve seen the women’s fights steal the show time and again and I think that’s down to the two-minute rounds. So, for me, I love three-minute rounds, but for women’s boxing, not so much – but if the only way to fight Serrano is over three minutes, sign me up.

“The Serrano fight for Sarah was 97-93, 97-93 and 99-92. That’s not happening, that’s all I will say. The way I am boxing right now, I don’t see the fight going the distance. If it does happen to go the distance, it’s 100-90.”

Nicolson’s clash with Mahfoud is part of a big night of action in Las Vegas, led by a double-header with two of America’s brightest stars as Richardson Hitchins takes on Gustavo Lemos in a final eliminator for the IBF World Jr. Welterweight title and Diego Pacheco defends his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Shawn McCalman.

British Olympic gold medal man Galal Yafai defends his WBC International Flyweight title against Agustin Mauro Gauto. Marc Castro gets a first title bout in his 12th pro outing, taking on Abraham Montoya for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title, Harley Mederos is in action for the sixth time in the paid ranks over six rounds against Pedro Vicente and there’s a pro debut for former Team USA talent Steven Navarro over six rounds at Super-Flyweight against Jose Lopez.

Skye Nicolson says she is fighting not just for her first World title but to continue to raise the profile of women’s boxing in Australia as she takes on Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC Featherweight belt at Bleaulive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN. 

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Nicolson (9-0 1 KO) has already won honors for her country in the amateurs, with Commonwealth gold placed around her neck at her home games in 2018, and in her tenth pro fight, Nicolson can add a World title strap to her collection if she can see off former World ruler Mahfoud (14-1 3 KOs)

The 28 year old’s title tilt comes off the back of a chastening weekend in America for Australian fighters in World title bouts, with Tim Tszyu surrendering his crown in a bloody battle against Sebastian Fundora in Vegas, and Michael Zerafa and Liam Wilson getting stopped in their fights against Erislandy Lara and Oscar Valdez.

Nicolson has grand designs on landing one of the biggest fights out there against Amanda Serrano, and knows that beating the Dane to win her first World title would bring the fight closer to reality, and would provide a huge shot in the arm for the sport in her beloved home land.

“We’ve had a few female World champions in Australia and I excited to be part of that movement and to be one of the girls that the younger generation are looking up to and aspiring to be like,” said Nicolson. “I know I have an important job as a role model, not just for kids in Australia but around the world. A lot of athletes have an important position in shaping the lives of girls and boys, and I take that responsibility seriously. 

“I follow a lot of the young girls boxing in Australia like Ella Vasen, Sienna Murray, Maia Laird and Tiana Rew, and they are killing it. The growth of female boxing is huge, women’s boxing is in its infancy, and where it’s going to be in the next ten to 20 years is very exciting and I’m really proud to be part of that development.

“The Australian boxing community just wants to get more eyes on the sport, that’s really been Australia’s struggle. We’re a big country with a small population, and it makes it really hard to get the backing and support that the athletes need. The stuff that we’re doing her around the world is aimed at growing the sport in Australia, to bring big fights there. 

“Tim has lead the way and has got Australian boxing on the map and hopefully that’s going to bring big fights to Australia. That’s what I want to do as well and for me, the dream is to fight for undisputed against Amanda Serrano in Australia.”

Nicolson’s clash with Mahfoud is part of a big night of action in Las Vegas, led by a double-header with two of America’s brightest stars as Richardson Hitchins takes on Gustavo Lemos in a final eliminator for the IBF World Jr. Welterweight title and Diego Pacheco defends his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Shawn McCalman.

British Olympic gold medal man Galal Yafai defends his WBC International Flyweight title against Agustin Mauro Gauto. Marc Castro gets a first title bout in his 12^th pro outing, taking on Abraham Montoya for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-Featherweight title, Harley Mederos is in action for the sixth time in the paid ranks over six rounds against Pedro Vicente and there’s a pro debut for former Team USA talent Steven Navarro over six rounds at Super-Flyweight against Jose Lopez.

Skye Nicolson will face Sarah Mahfoud for the vacant WBC World Featherweight title at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Saturday April 6, live worldwide on DAZN.

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Nicolson (9-0 1 KO) lands her first World title shot in Sin City, just over two years since making her professional debut in San Diego. The Australian has raced to #1 in the WBC rankings at 126lbs, and landed her first KO win in her last outing, stopping Lucy Wildheart in Dublin in November in the first defense of the interim title the 28 year old won in Mexico in September against Sabrina Perez.

Mahfoud (14-1 3 KOs) is looking to spoil the party and in turn become a two-time ruler at Featherweight. The Dane held the IBF title after being elevated from interim champion, and successfully defended it against Nina Meinke in April 2022, before losing to Amanda Serrano in Manchester, England in September 2022. The 34 year old is on a three-fight winning streak on home turf since that loss, picking up the WBC Silver title in March 2023 and successfully defending it in October, with an eight-round win in between.

“This means everything to me,” said Nicolson. “To fight for my first World title in the iconic boxing city of Las Vegas is truly special. It will be a proud moment for my family and my team – and on April 6, my lifelong dream of becoming a World Champion will finally become a reality. 

“Ever since the first time I put on a pair of boxing gloves, I’ve worked tirelessly towards this moment. Capturing the prestigious green and gold WBC belt will be the first major step towards becoming the Undisputed champion. And the new!”

“It is a dream of mine to become a two-time World champion,” said Mahfoud. “And it is also a dream of mine to box in Las Vegas on the biggest stage. Skye Nicolson is a good fighter, but she’s not proven at world-level like me. I will teach her a lesson and show her the levels on April 6.”

Two more fights added to the card are led by Briton’s Olympic gold medal man Galal Yafai defending his WBC International Flyweight title against Agustin Mauro.

Yafai (6-0 4 KOs) is hunting the World champions at the weight, and the 2020 games king is sitting pretty in the rankings, most pertinently at #6 with the WBC as he defends the belt he won on debut in February 2022 for the fifth time in Las Vegas. The 31 year old will be looking to put the belt holders on notice on April 6, but that’s exactly what Mauro (21-1 15 KOs) is looking to do too. The Argentine has won three of his last four fights inside the distance, and the 26 year old is planning to derail Yafai’s journey to a World title.

“It’s great to be fighting in Las Vegas for the first time in my career, which is something all Brits dream of,” said Yafai. “I know that Agustin is confident and that’s perfect for me, I want someone that believes they can win, as that will bring the best out of me.

“I like my positioning in the rankings, and I really think that 2024 is the year that I can get my shot at a World title.”

“I’m really excited about this opportunity,” said Mauro. “I’m going to destroy Galal Yafai. This is my time. I’d like to thank Matchroom Boxing for giving me such a huge opportunity for my career. I’ve been working extremely hard alongside my trainer, Rodrigo Calabrese, to get a great victory in the United States.

“We’ve been studying Galal. He is a great boxer, but I have what it takes to win the WBC International title on April 6. This will be my first time in Las Vegas. I always dreamed about fighting in this great city and I’m not going to waste my opportunity.

“I want to make history for Argentinean boxing, and this is a great opportunity to do just that. The fight comes at a great time in my career. I’ve had 22 professional fights. The last one was in Argentina in January, and I again displayed my knockout power. This is what I want to show in Las Vegas. On April 6, the boxing world will know who ‘Avión’ Gauto is.”

The third fight added to the bill sees Marc Castro fight over ten rounds for the second time, as he meets Abraham Montoya at Super-Featherweight. Castro (11-0 8 KOs) boxed over the ten round distance for the first time in November in Los Angeles, but only needed seven of them to record an eighth win inside the distance. Montoya (22-5-1 14 KOs) is a vastly experienced operator, with 99 more rounds in the bank than his young foe, and the 29 year old Mexican will provide the toughest test to date for the Fresno talent.

Nicolson, Yafai and Castro are part of a big night of action in Las Vegas, topped by a double-header featuring two of Matchroom’s brightest stars. Richardson Hitchins (17-0 7 KOs) tops the bill as he takes on Gustavo Lemos (29-0 19 KOs) in a final elimination for the IBF World Super-Lightweight title, while Diego Pacheco (20-0 17 KOs) continues his assault on the Super-Middleweight division as he defends his WBC USA and WBO International titles against Shawn McCalman (15-0 7 KOs).

Joe Joyce won the WBO Interim Heavyweight title with an 11th round stoppage over former WBO champion Joseph Parker at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.

In round two, Parker began to bleed from his nose. In round six, he began to bleed from around his right eye.

In round 11, Joyce landed a booming heft hook that put Parker on the canvas. Parker was badly hurt, and the fight was stopped at 1:03.

Joyce, 271 lbs of England is 15-0 with 14 knockouts. Parker, 255 lbs of South Auckland, NZ is 30-3.

Serrano becomes Undisputed Featherweight Champion

Amanda Serrano became the undisputed Featherweight champion with a 10-round unanimous decision over Sarah Mahfoud.

In round two, Mahfoud was cut on her hairline from a clash of heads.

Serrano, 124 lbs of Brooklyn, NY was the WBA/WBO/WBC champion, added Mahfoud’s IBF belt by scores of 99-92 and 97-93 twice and is now 43-2-1. Mahfoud, 124 lbs of Copenhagen, DEN is 11-1.

Nathan Heaney won a technical unanimous decision over Jack Flatley when a headbutt caused a bad gash over the right eye of Heaney in round five.

Heaney won by scores of 50-45 and 49-46 twice and is now 16-0. Flatley is 19-3-1.

Anthony Cacace won a 12-round split-decision over Mark Magnesi in a super featherweight bout.

In round five, Cacace was cut over the left eye.

Cacace, 129 lbs of Belfast, NI won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and Magnesi took a card 116-112.

Cacace is 20-1. Magnesi, 129 lbs of Italy is 21-1.

Ekow Essuman won a 12-round unanimous decision over Samuel Antwi.

Essuman won by scores of 117-112, 116-113 and 115-113 and is now 18-0. Antwi is 14-2.

Mark Heffron destroyed Martin Balucio in the opening round of their super middleweight bout,

In the opening round, Heffron landed a hard right that was followed by a crunching left hook and then a right to the chin the froze Balucio and the bout was stopped at

Heffron is now 30-2-1 with 23 knockouts. Balucio of Argentina is 10-7.

Raven Chapman won a eight-round unanimous decision over Jorgelina Guanini

BOXING SUPERSTAR AND seven-weight world champion Amanda Serrano admits she was taken by surprise when she received the news that IBF champion Sarah Mahfoud was prepared to accept a unification fight that will take place in Manchester on September 24.

The Puerto Rican southpaw – based in Brooklyn – who holds the WBC, WBO and IBO world featherweight titles was set to oblige a WBO mandatory against Yamileth Mercado in August at Madison Square Garden.

The proposed show was ultimately cancelled, leaving the 33-year-old without a date, resulting in her management team hooking up with Queensberry to place ‘The Real Deal’ on the blockbuster Joe Joyce-Joseph Parker heavyweight card at the AO Arena.

Much to her delight, the undefeated Dane and IBF world champion Mahfoud chose to share the Manchester stage with her for a unification match.

“It is thanks to my team, the fight on August 6 fell off and I said ‘I need a fight, I need a fight’,” said Serrano, recounting events. “They got me on this card and I am super-honoured to be on this card and honoured to have the opportunity to unify in my division.

“They are both tough fights, Mercado and Mahfoud, one was my mandatory with the WBO and one is a champion. Of course, you always want to fight the champions and I have been looking for this fight for a couple of years now, for her and the WBA, the two belts I am missing to become undisputed.

“I couldn’t believe that she took the fight, I was like ‘yes!’. Everything happens for a reason, the timing was great and she decided she wants to fight now, so let’s do it. It is in Manchester, my first time fighting over there and the UK fans are amazing and I just hope they come out and support the fight.”

Serrano admits that she has not intently re-watched her last fight, the epic clash with Katie Taylor that took place in New York back in April and delivered the best possible statement on behalf of women’s boxing.

“I kind of have, I have dibble-dabbled, but I always just see my mistakes, which is a good thing so you can fix it in the next fight.

“It was just a great night, a great event and I didn’t want to ruin it because we put on a hell of a show, both of us. There was blood, sweat, tears in the ring that night and the fans came out and supported us.

“So I just wanted to leave it like that. I just wanted to remember it the way I remember it,” she added, before pointing out that she does not consider the split decision reverse as a blot on her record.

“You know what, I feel like you never lose, you learn and I feel like I never lost that fight. I am coming back to my weight class and I am back to where I feel comfortable at, at 126lbs, where I am strong and where I am champion.

“I am unifying and I feel like I am back in my division right now.”

Tickets for ‘Nowhere to Run’ – the heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Joe Parker on 24 September at the AO Arena, Manchester being shown exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office – are priced from £40 and are on sale now exclusively from Ticketmaster.co.uk.

‘Nowhere to Run’ – Joe Joyce (14-0, 13 KOs) v Joseph Parker (30-2, 21) in a heavyweight collision between No.1 and No.2 with the WBO takes place on September 24 at the AO Arena, Manchester. The WBO International and Intercontinental championship belts, along with the WBC Silver title, will be on the line.

British super middleweight champion Mark Heffron (28-2-1, 22) will fight over eight rounds, with Kirkby super lightweight Callum Thompson (4-0, 1), Liverpool middleweight James Heneghan (7-0), Batley super lightweight Amaar Akbar (3-0) and Thetford cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher (1-0, 1) completing the card.

UNIFIED FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD champion and women’s boxing superstar Amanda Serrano will bid to add another world championship belt to her collection when she takes on the IBF champion Sarah Mahfoud at the AO Arena, Manchester on 24 September. The fight will be promoted by Frank Warren for Queensberry Promotions in association with Most Valuable Promotions.

The unification bout is part of a blockbuster night of boxing topped by the huge heavyweight collision between Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker being shown exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office. Joyce vs Parker is promoted by Frank Warren for Queensberry Promotions in association with BOXXER.

Seven-weight world champion Serrano (42-2-1, 30 KOs) is the reigning WBO, WBC and IBO world champion at 126lbs and has her sights set on becoming undisputed champion at the weight. Having won titles in every division between 115 and 140 pounds, Serrano, a Puerto Rican southpaw from Brooklyn, holds the Guinness World Record for most women’s boxing world championships (7) won in different weight classes.

Her narrow split-decision loss to Taylor in a lightweight championship bout at Madison Square Garden was the first women’s fight in history to headline at MSG. Drawing a raucous, sold-out crowd of 19,187, Serrano nearly finished Taylor off with a barrage of punches in the fifth round, before ultimately dropping a split decision.

Mahfoud (11-0, 3 KOs) 32, from Denmark defended her IBF title back in April by defeating Nina Meinkeover 10 rounds in Copenhagen, having previously won the Interim title with victory over Brenda Karen Carabajal in February 2020 and was elevated to full world champion status in July of the same year.

Recognition of Serrano’s talents and accomplishments has been turbo-charged in recent times by her friendship and promotional association with Jake Paul and the pair fought on the same show in August 2021 in Cleveland where she defeated Yamileth Mercado in a fight broadcast on Showtime PPV. The Cleveland card also featured Queensberry fighters Daniel Dubois and Paul’s rival Tommy Fury.

“I am so excited over the prospect of fighting in the UK,” said Amanda Serrano. “It has been on my to-do list for a long time, with the amazing fans who really get behind the sport, as well as the huge growth in women’s boxing.

“To be fighting in the biggest arena on a big heavyweight night will make it an amazing occasion to win a fourth world championship belt at featherweight.”

“I would like to thank Frank Warren and Queensberry, along with Jake Paul and MVP, for making this possible for me and I promise the UK fans will not be disappointed.”

“This is an amazing opportunity for me to fight for four world title belts against one of the biggest stars in the sport of boxing,” added Sarah Mahfoud. “It will be an experience like no other to win three more belts in England and then take them all home to Denmark.

“It will be my first fight outside of Denmark and I cannot think of a better place to fully introduce myself and my talent to the wider world than beating Amanda Serrano in Manchester.

“I would like to send my appreciation to everybody involved for making this happen.”

Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren said on Serrano-Mahfoud landing in Manchester: “I am delighted to welcome a modern boxing icon in Amanda Serrano onto our huge September 24card with four world title belts on the line. The stakes are obviously very high, which fits in nicely with the main event between Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker fighting for the right to take on the winner out of Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.

“I am looking forward to seeing Amanda fight in person once again after being present for her fight in Cleveland and what she has achieved in boxing is quite remarkable. She is bidding to become a four-belt world champion at featherweight against an unbeaten champion in Sarah Mahfoud, which makes it a superb attraction to add to our BT Sport Box Office event at the AO Arena in Manchester.

“We look forward to working with Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions again as Jake has cultivated an incredible following and is drawing them into the sport of boxing. When I was over in Cleveland with Daniel and Tommy you couldn’t fail to be impressed by the enthusiasm and fervour of the audience, who were in their seats and gripped from the start of the show right through to the main event.”

Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, from Most Valuable Promotions, added: “We cannot wait to have Amanda Serrano fight in front of the UK boxing fans on September 24 in Manchester live on BT Sport Box Office. It will be an incredible experience for both Amanda and the fans at the AO Arena.”

“To see her win a fourth world championship belt at featherweight against an unbeaten opponent in Sarah Mahfoud will be very special and to do it on the same card as a huge heavyweight showdown will only add to the occasion and it will be a magnificent showcase for Amanda. Thank you to Frank and George Warren for placing Amanda on the BT Sport Box Office platform in the UK.”

Southpaw Serrano, 33, won her first world title back in 2011 at super featherweight with a second-round stoppage of Kimberly Connor. The Puerto Rican, based in New York, has since competed in 15 further world championship fights sanctioned by the major governing bodies, winning 13.

Her last title challenge, up at lightweight, came at Madison Square Garden in April when she took on Katie Taylor in a fight which, in some quarters, was described as ‘Fight of the Century’. A classic encounter was declared in Taylor’s favour via a split decision on the judge’s scorecards.

Tickets for ‘Nowhere to Run’ – the heavyweight clash between Joe Joyce and Joe Parker on 24 September at the AO Arena, Manchester being shown exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office – are priced from £40 and are on sale now exclusively from Ticketmaster.co.uk.