12 weeks have passed since Skye Nicolson's first professional defeat, Tiara Brown spoiling her Australia homecoming in a battle of unbeaten featherweights the bullish American refused to lose.

After two successful world championship defences in the second-half of 2024, Nicolson (12-1, 1 KO) was increasingly vocal in pursuit of a matchup with multi-division titleholder Amanda Serrano (47-3-1, 31 KOs), who has long ruled the roost at 126lbs.

The now-former WBC featherweight champion laid low after a surprise split decision loss, some noting the southpaw's more humbled demeanour as she hinted mental preparation let her down after an excellent training camp.

During an interview with The Ring's Louis Hart, the 29-year-old said: "We had an amazing camp, I didn't feel like my physical preparation in the boxing gym, strength-and-conditioning [was lacking], it was all spot on and very physically prepared.

"Areas that lacked preparation were a lot more mental, something I've highlighted, it's definitely being worked on now and I feel really good about that, confident it'll make a great difference to my performances, so I'm excited for that."

Nicolson continued, saying that "tiny tweaks" would've made for a very different outcome, and she's using that to fuel her forthcoming campaign in the weight division below after Brown made it clear she would rather unify than indulge her in an immediate rematch.

Set to return in an eight-round contest at a 124-pound catchweight, she'll feature as part of the July 5 undercard headlined by Jack Catterall vs. Harlem Eubank at Manchester's AO Arena next month and on that topic, admitted the move has been a long time coming.

"I had been told by numerous people throughout my first couple years at pro, I should be boxing at super-bantamweight but always laughed it off, almost a why would I go down if I can win at this weight? Probably a little bit of an arrogant mindset, I might have been missing an opportunity, letting one slide, because I should've worked my way up.

"It's going to be a great move for me, hopefully I'll be in world title contention by the end of the year. It's all about being active, I want to be fighting more often, had six months out before the Tiara fight and felt it was too long."

Nicolson, as a former world champion, knows that her fight purse won't be the same especially as she builds back into championship contention in a shallow super-bantamweight division without many notable names. None of that matters to her.

"We've flagged it amongst my team as something that negatively affects performance for me, hopefully I'll get out again twice in the summer. I've literally asked for any opportunity to get out. I don't care if I'm on at 4pm, just want to box, small money, I need ring time."

What does, is manoeuvring herself back towards title honours as a potential Ellie Scotney matchup is closer now than before, despite both now operating on rival promotions.

Scotney, who signed a multi-year agreement with MVP in April, will face Mexican agemate and WBC champion Yamileth Mercado (24-3, 5 KOs) as part of a stacked July 11 card in New York's Madison Square Garden. Her respectful callout of the Aussie hasn't been forgotten, minutes after outboxing then-unbeaten IBO titlist Mea Motu on January 25.

Mercado will end a 13-month absence against the Londoner and naturally, Nicolson will make that appointment viewing.

"Whether it's Scotney or someone else, obviously she called me out after her last fight and probably expected it would be at featherweight, I'm interested to see if she's open to super-bantamweight if she stays there."

There could be cross-promotional negotiations to be brokered for that fight between Matchroom and MVP and another one too, after the latter's co-founder Nakisa Bidarian told Sky Sports of his belief Katie Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs) should have a trilogy with their new signee Chantelle Cameron, regardless of the result in next month's Serrano trilogy.

"I think, win or lose, Katie should fight Chantelle again. They're 1-1. Amanda and Katie technically are 2-0 but very close fights that many people thought on both occasions that Amanda won so there's definitely a demand for that. I believe there's a demand - at least in the UK and Ireland - for Taylor-Cameron III. We'll try to make that happen."