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Who’s next for Skye Nicolson?

SKYE Nicolson is quickly becoming the most-avoided featherweight on the planet.

An Olympian and well-schooled amateur, the 28-year-old has risen to the summit of her division, capturing and recently defending the WBC featherweight crown.

Having banked her first successful title defence in Philadelphia with a shut-out decision over Dyana Vargas, conversation has turned to the next step for Australia’s undefeated southpaw.

We look ahead with three viable options for Nicolson (11-0, 1 KO), who plans to compete at least two more times in 2024.

1. Tiara Brown (17-0, 11 KOs)

Seen by American audiences as Nicolson’s toughest challenge on paper, the 36-year-old could be the biggest puncher that Nicolson has faced to date.

Outspoken across social media, Brown has one mutual opponent with Nicolson, being Uruguayan Gabriela Bouvier. The Queenslander comfortably outpointed Bouvier in her fourth professional appearance two years ago.

The Florida-based Brown has competed in four different countries since turning professional in 2016.

Brown has beaten modest opposition so far, with just eight of her 17 professional opponents boasting a winning record.

2. Raven Chapman (8-0, 2 KOs)

This could be the biggest domestic challenge available, due to their profiles and status as England-based competitors.

Almost three years into her professional career, the 30-year-old has captured the WBC International featherweight title, and is now well-placed as a likely opponent in the near future.

The pair have previously shared a ring in sparring, albeit briefly, which Nicolson acknowledged in her recent interview with Ariel Helwani.

Chapman is currently rated seventh by the WBC, and is coming off a career-best scalp against Czech Lucie Sedlackova.

3. Amanda Serrano (46-2-1, 30 KOs)

The queen of the featherweights, it’s highly unlikely that the four-belt featherweight titleholder will face Nicolson next.

Serrano, 35, has already two scheduled bouts between now and November, including American Stevie Morgan on July 21 in Tampa, as well as a salivating rematch against long-time rival Katie Taylor on November 16 in Arlington.

Despite her recent activity, interest continues to build for an eventual meeting between Nicolson and Serrano, due to Serrano’s dismissing of Nicolson as a viable option.

Serrano had previously declared her interest in competing in 12-round fights, consisting of three-minute rounds.

However, Serrano has since elected to return to traditional women’s boxing rules for her scheduled bouts against Morgan and Taylor.

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