The perfect start to Aussie Olympic boxing star Skye Nicolson’s professional boxing career has continued with a unanimous shutout victory in Leeds over Bec Connolly.
The 26-year-old Nicolson won over Australia during the Olympic Games in Tokyo after a heartbreaking loss in her second fight of the tournament despite being the first Australian woman to make the quarter-finals of the Olympics.
Watch Kiko Martinez vs Josh Warrington IBF Featherweight Title Fight Live on Kayo. Sunday from 6AM. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
It was an agonising defeat as the Queenslander lost a 3-2 result which could have gone either way.
At the time she said the achievement “means nothing to me” as her single-minded focus on winning the gold medal left her in tears at being unable to achieve her goal.
But month on from that disappointment, she’s already making waves in the women’s bantamweight pro ranks, having claimed her second pro win this month.
And while she hasn’t ended either in a KO, she has had shut-out victories in both.
Earlier this month, she defeated the 3-0 Jessica Juarez, and backed it up on the undercard of the Kiko Martinez Vs Josh Warrington IBF Featherweight World Title clash.
Nicolson was never troubled in the fight against the 3-11 Connolly, romping to another perfect points win.
Former bantamweight champion Shannon Courtenay praised Nicolson’s performance
“Very nice performance, she’s a beautiful boxer, very slick jab, Becca had nothing to come back with,” Courtenay said. “Skye was relaxed, she enjoyed herself. Still got that amateur style about her but it worked really well so I don’t want her to lose that.
“Maybe a little more aggression, I feel like she could have stepped on it a bit more, maybe got the stoppage, but really good performance.
“I think she boxes beautifully, she’s a really nice girl, she’s been relaxed all day and she enjoys it. It’s really nice to watch.”
ESPN’s Adam Santarossa was also impressed.
“Six round shutout for Skye Nicolson. Completely one sided from the opening bell and Skye moves to 2-0 as a professional,” he wrote.
Boxing writer Shaun Brown added: “Skye Nicolson is very good. Beating Connolly at a canter. Laser focus too on her opponent. She can do what she wants in this fight. Massive future.”
Sports scientist Adam Logan also said: “Skye Nicolson style giving off Fury vibes with the feet, low hands and upper body moments she looks very hard to beat.
“So controlled so relaxed she would have zero problems with 3 minute rounds very classy would love if she was just a wee bit nastier.”
While the transition from amateur to professional can be difficult as fighters look to develop a knockout punch, Nicolson’s future is bright after a perfect start to her career.
