Skye Nicolson Beats Raven Chapman and More News Including Yokasta Valle

 

By David A. Avila

Australia’s Skye Nicolson systematically neutralized England’s Raven Chapman to retain the WBC featherweight title and their battle was the first women’s world title fight ever seen in Saudi Arabia.

Nicolson (12-0, 1 KO) proved superior against the dangerous Chapman (9-1) over 10 rounds at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh this past weekend. She also proved capable of reaching stardom on a bigger scale.

If only she would punch more.

The first two rounds were tepid, with the second round ending with neither fighter landing a blow.

I think they call that a dance.

But things started heating up in the third round. Though Chapman cut off the ring, she still was unable to find steady contact. Nicolson proved adept at moving slightly out of range.

The Aussie wasn’t running and she wasn’t holding. It was clever shuffles out of range that allowed her to keep the British fighter from landing combinations. It was subtle stuff.

Neither fighter landed a combination, but it was clear when Nicolson connected.

The blows from the Aussie were often soft, more touches than punches. And though she is capable of combination punching, she is satisfied with landing one blow and escaping out of range.

It’s not a fan friendly style yet.

Nicolson continues to add more elements to her boxing style. When she first began as a pro her fights were track meets, not boxing events. Her trainers have continued to hone her fighting skills for the pro fight game. It’s evident in every fight.

Can she reach Katie Taylor status or style?

The southpaw from Queensland is 29 years old and continues her assault on featherweight contenders and in refining her game. Her team continues to refine her fighting equipment. One day soon, all her tools will converge into an unbeatable fighting machine and make her into a major draw.

One day soon.

 

Yokasta Valle vs Yoselin Fernandez in November

Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle (31-3, 10 Kos) returns to action with a match versus Venezuela’s Yoselin Fernandez (15-5, 8 Kos) on Friday Nov. 1, in Costa Rica.

Valle, 32, recently signed another contract with Golden Boy Promotions and has been seeking a rematch with Seniesa Estrada for all the minimumweight world titles. Their first fight took place on March 29, in Glendale, Arizona and ended with a win by decision for Estrada.

The Costa Rican fighter is ranked number one by all the sanctioning bodies.

 

 Battle of the Gabrielas

Gabriela Alaniz (15-1, 6 Kos) meets Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 Kos) for all the flyweight world titles on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight for the undisputed flyweight world championship will be streamed on DAZN.

Argentina’s Alaniz defeated Marlen Esparza in a rematch last April for the WBC, WBA and WBO flyweight world titles after losing a highly controversial decision on July 2023.

Fundora knocked out Mexico’s Arely Mucino for the IBF flyweight title a year ago in Los Angeles. Then defeated Christina Cruz by technical knockout this past January and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo two months ago.

It’s an interesting match that pits Alaniz aggressive style against the much taller Fundora who packs a punch.

Even more interesting is that both decided to fight each other instead of facing Mexico’s Kenia Enriquez, female boxing’s most avoided fighter.

 

Amanda and Katie

It’s the ultimate rematch of perhaps the greatest women’s world title fight ever made.

This time Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 Kos) will be defending the undisputed super lightweight world championship against undisputed featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano (47-2-1, 31 Kos) on Nov. 15, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It’s the co-main event with Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson.

Most Valuable Promotions will stream the loaded fight card on Netflix.

 

More Fight News

Argentina

On Saturday Oct. 19, featherweights Brisa Rosario (2-1-1) and Daiana Molina (3-1-1) meet six rounds at Ciudad Mendoza. Also, super bantams Lucia Garcia (1-0) and Dalma Alaniz (1-4-1) meet four.

 

Australia

On Saturday Oct. 19, welterweights Connie Chan (5-7) and Louise Creaven (1-0) meet eight rounds for the Australian title at Carrara.

 

Belgium

On Saturday Oct. 19, lightweights Djemilla Gontaruk (16-11-2) and Diana Kulinova (4-12) meet six rounds at Farciennes.

 

Canada

On Thursday Oct. 17, light heavyweights Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-2) and Angelica Lopez (14-2-1) meet 10 rounds at Gatineau.

 

Colombia

Katerina Tobon (6-3-1) defeated Irina Caicedo (0-4) in six rounds on Wednesday Oct. 9. The lightweight fight was held in Santa Marta. Also, super lightweight Erika Escobar (2-1) beat Dilia Castelar (0-2) in four.

 

France

Romane Moulai (2-0) defeated Cara McLaughlin (1-11) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 12. The bantamweight match was held in Marseille

Priscilla Peterle (11-0) defeated Claribel Mena (12-2) by decision after 10 rounds on Friday Oct. 11. The regional super welterweight title fight was held in Dunkerque. Also, super featherweight Licia Boudersa (23-2-2) defeated Marina Sakhharov (6-19-2) in six.

On Saturday Oct. 19, flyweights Justine Lallemand (11-3-1) and Ivanka Ivanova (6-27-4) meet six rounds at Charleville.

On Saturday Oct. 19, welterweights Marine Beachamp (6-1-1) and Kirstie Bavington (8-5-2) meet 10 rounds at Laval.

On Saturday Oct. 19, super bantams Segolene Lefebvre (18-1) and Juliana Basualdo (12-5) meet 10 rounds at Douai.

 

Germany

Cheyenne Hanson (14-2) knocked out Nana Dokadze (4-23) in the second round on Saturday Oct. 12. The super bantamweight fight was held in Holzminden.

Lena Venjacob (2-0) knocked out Beate Heissenreder (0-2) in the first round on Tuesday Oct. 8. The super featherweight fight was held in Landau.

 

Guatemala

On Saturday Oct. 19, super welterweights Sara Anti Gabriel (5-4) and Katherine Tobar (0-0) meet four rounds at Guatemala City. Also, bantamweights Genesis Rodias (0-0) and Sandy Contreras (0-1) meet four.

 

Japan

Akane Fujiwara (7-4-1) beat Thanchanok Phanan (20-11) by decision after eight rounds on Sunday Oct. 13. The featherweight regional title fight was held in Yokohama.

Kanae Maehara (4-2-2) defeated Kaori Nagai (7-7-3) in six rounds on Tuesday Oct. 8. The light fly fight was held in Tokyo.

On Sunday Oct. 20, minimumweights Marina Loreto (6-0-2) and Mont Blanc Miki (6-7-1) meet eight rounds at Toyonaka for a regional title.

 

Kenya

On Saturday Oct. 19, super lightweights Sarah Achieng (16-2) and Monalisa Sibanda meet 10 rounds for a regional title at Kisumu.

On Sunday Oct. 20, super feathers Praxides Anyango (5-0) and Martha Akinyi (0-1) meet six rounds at Nairobi.

 

Puerto Rico

Krystal Rosado-Ortiz (5-0) defeated Perla Lomeli (6-3) by decision after six rounds on Friday Oct. 11. The bantamweight match was held in Caguas.

 

Saudi Arabia

Skye Nicolson (12-0) won by unanimous decision over Raven Chapman (9-1) after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 12. The WBC featherweight title match took place in Riyadh.

 

Serbia

Sara Marjanovic (10-11) beat Gordana Milovanov (0-3) in six rounds on Friday Oct. 11. The super flyweight fight was held in Belgrade.

 

Slovakia

On Saturday Oct. 19, lightweights Barbora Mayerova (2-3) and Andrea Hamko (0-0) meet four rounds at Poprad.

 

Spain

On Saturday Oct. 19, featherweights Rus Roca (1-0) and Miriam Garcia (2-2) meet four rounds at Picanya.

 

Sweden

Linn Sandstrom (9-3-3) defeated Carla Campos (6-3) by decision after 10 rounds on Saturday Oct. 12. The regional super flyweight title match was held in Gothenberg.

 

Thailand

Blessin Bukola (9-0) won by knockout in the fourth round over Tanwarat Saengiamjit (11-7-1) on Saturday Oct. 12. The super fly title fight took place in Pathum Thani.

 

United Kingdom

Chelsey Arnell (4-1-1) won by decision over Jamillette Vallejos (4-16-2) after six rounds on Friday Oct. 11. The super featherweight match was held in Beverley.

On Saturday Oct. 19, bantamweights Francesca Hennessy (4-0) and Ana Karla Vaz (5-0) meet eight rounds at Hackney Wick, England. Also, bantams Shannon Courtenay (8-2) and Catherone Tacone (4-3-1) meet four rounds.

On Saturday Oct. 19, featherweights Roni Dean (4-0) and Kira Carter (0-10-1) meet six rounds at Ipswich. Also, super featherweights Ellish Tierney (2-0) and Amy Greatorex (1-9) meet six.

On Saturday Oct. 19, flyweights Nicola Hopewell (5-1) and Mary Aina Abbey (12-1) meet 10 rounds at Sheffield for a regional title.

 

USA

Melissa Holguin (5-2) beat Karla Valenzuela (3-34-3) by decision after four rounds on Saturday Oct. 12. The super featherweight fight took place in San Antonio, Texas.

On Thursday Oct. 17, featherweights Clarice Morales (1-4-1) and Lauren Michaels (2-2) meet four rounds at Washington D.C.

 

Venezuela

Darly Perozo (3-0) won by decision after four rounds versus Yeraldin Liendo (0-4) on Saturday Oct. 12. The light flyweight fight took place in Turmero.

 

(Photo by Matchroom Boxing)