Aussie boxer Skye Nicolson blasted over outclassed comeback opponent

News.com.au

21 hours ago

Skye Nicolson dominated her comeback fight against Bolivian Carla Camila Campos Gonzalez in Manchester on Sunday (AEST).
It was the Aussie's first fight since losing her undefeated record and WBC featherweight world title in a split decision defeat to American Tiara Brown in Sydney in March.
Nicolson dropped down a weight division to junior featherweight and while boxers and their promoters often choose a lower-ranked opponent following a loss, the choice to take on 24-year-old Gonzalez brought some strong backlash for the Australian.
While Gonzalez had a solid 9-3 record coming into the bout at AO Arena, those nine wins came against fighters that had a combined total of zero wins in their careers.
Watch the end of the fight in the video player above
Four of them were debutantes and three others had just one fight on their resumes, including her two foes prior to taking on accomplished fighter Nicolson, who is now 13-1 for her career.
So it was little surprise that Nicolson had the insane odds of 1/100 to win the fight and duly dispatched Gonzalez barely 40 seconds into the second round of a proposed eight-round fight.
Afterwards, the Queenslander was relieved to have another win under her belt.
'It was good, a little sigh of relief,' she said on Matchroom Boxing.
'It almost half felt like my debut tonight, Skye 2.0's debut. It was good to get back to winning ways.
'There were so many lessons learned from my last outing and I feel like a completely different person now, completely different fighter, and that showed tonight and I'm going to keep showing that.'
The shy smile that Gonzalez showed when the boxers touched gloves was not a good indicator for a fighter that goes by the name 'La Princesa'.
While the Bolivian did attempt to throw a few punches, very few found the target as the taller, noticeably stronger Nicolson landed heavy punches almost at will.
In two-minute rounds, the Aussie southpaw worked on her combinations in a fight that resembled little more than a sparring session.
The commentary team at least did their best to call the fight.
'She's really focused and can go about her work and start to prove people wrong,' one commentator said.
'One thing we know for sure, she's a very good boxer She's looking aggressive and extremely spiteful here in this opening round.'
After finishing a three-punch combo with a heavy left that rocked Gonzalez's head back, Nicolson then threw another six punches in quick succession as the referee ended the contest.
After it was all over, the commentator called the referee's decision 'a fantastic stoppage' as the clearly outclassed Gonzalez copped a load of punishment.
Fellow commentator and former world champion Barry Jones added: 'That was a really good display and also you announce yourself in the weight division.
'Regardless of who you're fighting against, to be dominant like that and show a different side to your game than people have seen before, people will take notice for sure.'
Many of those watching on weren't impressed by the quality of opponent, however, taking to X to vent their disappointment.
'Gonzalez has never beaten a boxer who has even a single pro victory. Disgusting match making,' was one comment.
'Nicholson was facing a below average boxer,' said another.
'Does her opponent work in a library as a cleaner?' asked one fan somewhat cruelly.
Another X user with the username The Menace was having none of it, tweeting twice after the result.
'She fights bums that's why Brown beat her ass,' was the first comment.
They then followed up with: 'No way she feels tough over this weak ass cherry pick match … overhyped!!! She needed a confidence boost.'
Others were just happy to see Nicolson back in the ring.
One tweeted: 'She's so good.'
A second wrote: 'Damn, she wasn't playing. Nice work.'
Promoter Eddie Hearn also spoke after the fight and conceded Nicolson would likely need another fight before she starts thinking about a shot at a second world title.
'I think another fight,' he said. 'Obviously that was a step down from the level she's been fighting at and when you do step down to that level, you've got to be getting them out of there quickly, which is exactly what she did.
'But sometimes when you rush through to the world championship, you don't really get the ring time to work on that transition and work on what she's been doing in the gym.
She's hurting people sparring, she's throwing combinations, tonight was really the first time you saw her sit down on her punches and throw four, five punch combinations in her whole professional career.
'She's going to be a huge super bantamweight at 122 (pounds, 55.3 kgs) and a phenomenal talent, we know that.
'But just this activity, sometimes when you're fighting world championship fights, you just fight three times a year and it's difficult to get in that flow.
'She did that tonight, box ticked, obviously the opposition is going to step up now as you go.
'But hopefully another (fight) maybe in Australia, end of August, early September, something like that and then a world title shot at the end of the year.'
Nicolson's trainer Eddie Lam said after the fight: 'She'll fight anyone.'