Skye Nicolson has revealed the extent to which training alongside Sam Noakes was key to her victory over Yuliahn Luna Avila.
The Australian’s unanimous decision victory at the Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, California earned her not only the WBC interim junior-featherweight title, but potentially the opportunity to fight for her division’s undisputed title in 2026.
Nicolson, 30, will await developments between Ellie Scotney and Mayelli Flores, the two reigning champions, after an injury suffered by Scotney led to a date between them being called off.
Both she and Scotney have regardless long recognised the extent to which a contest between them would prove marketable, and having successfully rebuilt – having previously sacrificed her WBC featherweight title in March to Tiara Brown, in her only defeat – Nicolson is optimistic about not only her prospects for 2026, but those of Noakes.
The English lightweight proved himself at world level in November’s narrow WBO title defeat by Abdullah Mason. He and Nicolson often prepared side by side at his trainer Alan Smith’s iBox Gym in Bromley, England, and both benefitted ahead of significant fights.
“Everyone at the Ibox team, we’re like a family,” she told BoxingScene. “We all bounce off each other; it’s always good energy and good vibes in the gym, and that’s so important to have that. It’s so important to be surrounded by people who are chasing the same dream; who’ve all got the same end goals, and while it’s an individual sport we all feel very much like a team.
“When we win we all win together, and when we lose we all lose together. It’s been amazing training alongside Sam, especially in the lead up to his world-title fight, and I just know he’s going to go on to do big things in 2026.
“It’s not nice when anyone loses, but he made a very good name for himself that night. He let the world know his name; we were all so proud of him; he was such a warrior in there, and there wasn’t really much of a feeling of disappointment or sadness, because he did make such a good account of himself against someone who’s going to go on to be an all-time great. It was unfortunate that his first world-title shot had to be against someone so special, ‘cause I think he would have beaten most lightweights in the world that night, and unfortunately he was in there with Abdullah Mason.
“We’re all so proud of him; he lost, but he won in so many people’s hearts. It wasn’t too much of a blow for the gym – we’re all just so proud of him.”
Nicolson was awarded victory over her 31-year-old Mexican opponent via scores of 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93.
Frank Warren, the promoter of Noakes, meanwhile, has promised to deliver for him another world-title fight in 2026.
