Skye Nicolson Defends Title in Historic Women's Bout in Riyadh

Skye Nicolson will defend her WBC featherweight title against Britain’s Raven Chapman as Saudi Arabia prepares to host its first women’s world title fight during the Riyadh Season on Saturday. The bout marks a significant moment for women’s boxing in the Kingdom and will take place on the undercard of the highly anticipated clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh.

Promoter Eddie Hearn sees this as a vital advancement for women’s boxing, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s increasing impact on the sport. While the Kingdom has hosted numerous major boxing events in the past year, this will be the first featuring a women’s world title fight. Despite progress, the event occurs against the backdrop of continued criticism from human rights organizations regarding Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women and minorities.

Nicolson undeterred by these concerns, sees the event as an opportunity to inspire women in Saudi Arabia. She hopes to use her platform to promote gender equality in sports, reflecting the country’s broader social reforms. However, human rights groups like Amnesty International remain skeptical, arguing that while Saudi Arabia is pushing for change, restrictions on women’s rights remain strict.

The fight is seen as a landmark moment for women’s boxing, not only in Saudi Arabia but globally. Skye Nicolson, who will receive a career-high payday is optimistic about the future of women’s boxing in the region. Hearn shares this optimism, believing Saudi Arabia’s growing involvement in the sport will raise the profile of female boxers and lead to more significant opportunities.

The event also sets the stage for future high-profile women’s fights in the Kingdom, potentially involving top talents like Sandy Ryan, Chantelle Cameron and even Irish boxing star Katie Taylor.