Skye Nicolson’s junior featherweight campaign continues to yield positive results.
Nicolson (15-1, 3 KOs) soundly outboxed Yulihan Luna (28-5-1, 4 KOs) to score a unanimous decision win on Saturday. Judges scored the 10-round contest 98-92, 98-92, and 97-93 in favor of Nicolson.
The bout took place on Matchroom Boxing's card at the Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, California, headlined by Diego Pacheco and Kevin Lele Sadjo.
With the win, Nicolson picked up the 122-pound WBC interim title. Nicolson, a former 126-pound titleholder, scored her third straight win at junior featherweight ever since stepping down a weight class after her split decision loss against Tiara Brown in March.
Nicolson, a 30-year-old southpaw from Australia, frustrated Avila and didn’t allow her to get in range by landing long jabs, check hooks, and body shots.
Avila, a former 118- and 122-pound titleholder, started strong in the first two rounds, but Nicolson separated herself beginning in the third, as Avila didn’t make the necessary adjustments to stay in the fight.
Both fighters threw 235 punches, but Nicolson landed 74, compared to 41 from Avila, according to CompuBox. Nicolson also had a 20-to-5 advantage landing body shots.
“It’s been a big year. It didn’t start the way I planned, but we finished it very nicely tonight,” said Nicolson. “I’m grateful to Yulihan Luna. I wanted to be in a real fight. She was a really tough Mexican fighter.”
Nicolson stated that she’s looking forward to fighting Ring and unified champion
Ellie Scotney in 2026.
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.