Skye Nicolson has fought on some of the biggest cards in world boxing – but she’s never been the main event. Until now.

The WBC interim super-bantamweight champion will take on Mariah Turner on April 29 in Melbourne in the marquee matchup of the night, and she can barely believe it.

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“I’m so excited,” she told Fox Sports Australia. “I’ve never been part of a main event before, so I feel very privileged.

“It’s something that people dream of – your name being one of the main ones on the poster.”

After years building her career abroad, 15-1 Nicolson says returning home as the headline act feels like coming full circle.

“It’s such a ‘pinch me’ moment,” she said. “I’ve had many of those on my whole boxing journey, but this one’s special.

“It feels like a homecoming.”

Australian boxing champion Skye NicolsonSource: FOX SPORTS

A LEGACY LIVES ON

Nicolson grew up in Queensland, in a family where boxing was more than just a hobby.

Tragically, she never met her two older brothers who lost their lives in a car accident on the way to training before Skye was born.

This loss has remained a central part of her story.

One brother, Jamie, was an exceptionally talented boxer who won a bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games and competed at the 1992 Olympics Games.

Though she never had the chance to meet him, he has remained a source of inspiration for his sister – right down to her slick southpaw style.

When Nicolson claimed gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games – and later captured a world featherweight title – she dedicated both wins to her brothers.

“I don’t think the 12-year-old Skye who first started going to the boxing gym would ever have thought that this was going to be my life,” she admitted.

“So [headlining] means a lot to me, and it’s just a reminder of how far I’ve come.”

THE STACKED UNDERCARD

The April 29 card also serves as the launchpad for Eddie Hearn’s new Australian push, with Matchroom Boxing set to deliver seven shows Down Under this year – and features a cracking all-Aussie co-main between Jake Wyllie and Ibrahim Balla for the IBF Pan-Pacific lightweight title.

Breakout heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana also features in the lineup, taking on longtime local favourite Bowie Tupou.

With 10 wins from 10 fights – including seven first-round knockouts – Nicolson believes Teremoana has a massive future.

“I first met [him] when we were teenagers,” she said. “I’ve watched him grow from a boy to a man…a very big man…

“He’s such a great character, so good for Australian boxing and also an absolute beast. Like, a monster – a serious threat to the division.

“He’s going to be a heavyweight world champion one day and he’s on my undercard. That’s so cool.”

STANDING IN HER WAY

As for the other half of the main event, 12-1 Mariah Turner, Nicolson is expecting a tough test from a determined challenger dropping down in weight.

“I’m expecting a really good, hard fight,” she said. “She’s in the top 10 in the featherweight division, and is working very hard to make the move to super bantamweight.

“This is her moment. This is her opportunity to show the world who she is. I always know that when people fight me, the best version of them is going to show up.”

Nicolson reveals she’s done a lot of study on her opponent over the past few months, since their bout was announced, but admits this is probably also true for Turner.

“I feel like I know her inside out. But I don’t think there’s more footage of any female boxer online than there is of me, so she probably feels the exact same way,” she laughed.

Known for her movement, timing and elite ring IQ, Nicolson is complimentary about her NZ-born, Queensland-based foe while declaring she’s prepared for any gameplan Turner brings.

“She’s got a very composed, smart boxing style. She’s very balanced in her footwork. I honestly don’t know what she’s going to try. I’m sure she’ll have a Plan A, B and C…but none of them will work.”

RIGHT WHERE SHE BELONGS

While focused on her first-ever main event, Nicolson has even bigger boxing dreams on the backburner.

“It’s been the goal since I turned professional to become an undisputed champion,” she revealed. “I want to be a household name, and I feel like that’s the kind of accolade that’s going to get you there.

“I don’t want to fight for vacant titles. I want to fight the champions. I want to dethrone the champions. I want to prove I’m the best!

“I’ve found that side of professional boxing quite difficult to deal with, where people, if they don’t want to fight you, just won’t fight you.

“Mandatory positioning obviously helps, but it still doesn’t guarantee anything. As we saw when I was the mandatory for Amanda Serrano. It didn’t happen.

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“So I hope that’s not the case going into the Ellie Scotney undisputed fight [hopefully later this year].

“But I’m not focusing on any of that right now, my full focus is on April 29 because beating Mariah Turner comes before anything else.”

For Nicolson, April 29 isn’t just another fight – it’s the moment everything comes full circle.