Australia’s Skye Nicolson has opened up on her ongoing beef with Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions, stressing she “won’t be denied” when it comes to making some of the biggest fights in women’s boxing.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, the 30-year-old has also declared MVP “hate” her being one of the biggest names in women’s boxing, saying: “I feel like they want to make fights work with everyone but me”.
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Regardless, if Nicolson defends her interim WBC gold against Mariah Turner in Melbourne on Wednesday night, she is then set to call out no less than four MVP stars – Amanda Serrano, Ellie Scotney, Cherneka Johnson, even Tiara Brown.
The declaration comes as the popular Queenslander has already been branded disrespectful, and even had her selling power questioned by MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian.
Yet while Nicolson admits her and Bidarian “haven’t had the nicest friendship, I’ll be honest”, she stressed a win over Turner on Wednesday night will ensure the two groups have to work together.
“[Because] They need me,” Nicolson said to open fight week for Wednesday’s headliner. “They don’t want to admit it, but they need me.
“I’m one of the biggest names in female boxing in the world.
“And as much as they hate that, it is what it is.
“So line them up. I’ll beat them all and be cashing cheques.
“That’s what is happening.”
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 04: Skye Nicolson looks on during a media workout on December 04, 2025 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Certainly, there is no doubting the huge impact Youtuber-tuned-boxer Paul has had on the female fight game.
Apart from having ignited his own crazy crossover career – with bouts against the likes of Anthony Joshua, Nate Diaz, even Mike Tyson — Paul has also gone all in on the women’s side of the sport.
The push includes MVP having already signed five of ESPN’s top 10 women fighters – including Serrano and Alycia Baumgardner – while also stacking the American’s undercards with female fights, thereby showcasing those athletes to sizeable, new audiences.
In May, the man worth over $200 million will also promote Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano, and has snapped up a host of Aussie talent including Ebonie Bridges, Desley Robinson and undisputed bantamweight Cherneka Johnson.
Yet for the past couple of years, Nicolson has been caught in an escalating feud with MVP co-founder Bidarian, who alongside Paul runs the promotional company.
Most recently, the former UFC executive accused Nicolson of ducking Scotney, while also questioning the Australian’s ability to not only sell tickets but even make the super bantamweight limit.
The accusations continue an ongoing drama between the two parties, and one which initially kicked off way back when Nicolson not only first called out Serrano, but made her own ducking claims when the Puerto Rican vacated a WBC strap rather than facing her.
Now again, Nicolson fears England’s Scotney will also move up rather than face her once she becomes mandatory with a victory on Wednesday night.
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Asked on fight eve about her ongoing beef with promoters MVP, Nicolson grinned: “I think Jake Paul has been good for women’s boxing, bringing more eyes to the fights and more opportunities for the girls.
“But Nikisa and I, we haven’t had the nicest friendship, I’ll be honest.
“Our relationship isn’t great.
“I think Serrano and her team took me wanting to fight her very personally for some reason.
“Who knows why? That’s boxing.
“If you’re the undisputed champion, you get called out. Especially when you’ve got a mandatory challenger – like I was – who wants to prove themselves.
“So I don’t know why that got taken so badly. But it did. I don’t think they liked my self belief, and I don’t think they liked my confidence.
“And things haven’t gone well ever since.
“Even now years later, and with her boxing up a weight class, there is still beef. But whatever.”
Skye Nicolson poses for a photo following her victory over Carla Camila Campos Gonzales in their Super Bantamweight fight on ‘The Warrior Code’ fight card at AO Arena on July 05, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Asked her thoughts, specifically, on the influence MVP now has over women’s boxing and Nicolson took a long pause before continuing: “Ummmm, I like the idea … I like the concept of them refreshing women’s boxing.
“I like that the girls are getting opportunities and being paid well.
“I’m just not sure about their business model.
“I don’t like the all-female cards.
“We’ve spent the past decade trying to move away from women’s boxing and men’s boxing, but just have boxing.
“And they’re going back on that a bit. I don’t love that.
“It shouldn’t be women’s boxing. It should be boxing.
“I also don’t like that they’re using three-minute rounds with the WBC to get out of mandatory defences.
“And it’s not just me. Across the board it’s happening with a lot of other girls as well who want their big opportunity and aren’t getting it after becoming mandatory.
“I find that annoying. It’s clear three-minute rounds don’t work for female boxing.
“But they keep trying to force it down everyone’s throats.
“The argument that it will bring more stoppages, that hasn’t happened.
“We’ve seen so many boring fights that have been put on over three minute rounds.
“They’re going the distance and no one is even watching by the end.”
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So as for what message she would have in victory Wednesday night?
“I don’t really have a message for Nakisa,” she continued. “But he knows that in women’s boxing, the big fights will include my name moving forward.
“I won’t be denied.
“I’m going to keep knocking on the door. Keep calling them out.
“And I’m going to keep on winning.
“As far as I’m aware too, Matchroom and MVP are on good terms and talking together about making big fights.
“So I assume that includes me.
“I feel sometimes like [MVP] wants to make the fights work with everyone but me. But we’re not going to make it personal.
“And if they want to use Matchroom’s other champions like Katie Taylor, Elif Nur Turhan, and Sandy Ryan, there will have to be some give and take.
“Which could mean I fight Ellie Scotney, Tiara Brown, Amanda Serrano … even all three.
“That would be nice.
“So while I do think MVP are trying to keep a lot of the belts in house, I think there will be opportunities there.
“Because I believe I’m the best super bantamweight in the world, including Ellie Scotney. And I believe I beat most featherweights as well …”
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As a result, Nicolson said she would also be open to a rematch with American Tiara Brown – another from the expanding MVP stable — who upset her for the WBC featherweight crown last March.
“I had a bad night last year and have asked for that rematch,” the Aussie continued. “She’s signed with MVP so there’s another big fight there as well.
“And let’s be honest, who is giving two s***s about watching Tiara Brown unless it’s against me.
“They need me.
“They don’t want to admit it, but they need me.
“I’m one of the biggest names in female boxing in the world.
“And as much as they hate that, it is what it is.
“So line them up, I’ll beat them all and be cashing cheques.
“That’s what is happening.”