Skye Nicolson becomes first fighter to join MVP under an alliance
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the signing of Australia’s two division champion, reigning WBC super bantamweight world champion at 122lbs, and 2020 Australian Olympian Skye Nicolson (16-1, 3 KOs) as Nicolson becomes the first fighter to compete under the newly announced strategic alliance from MVP and Matchroom Boxing, focused on accelerating the continued global growth of women's boxing. Under the alliance, Matchroom will work with MVP to continue elevating Nicolson throughout the next phases of her professional career.
Nicolson will make her MVP event debut on MVPW-06 at bp pulse LIVE on Saturday, August 29 in Birmingham, England. She will defend her WBC super bantamweight world title in a 10-round defense at 122lbs against Japan’s two-division champion Miyo Yoshida (19-5, 1 KOs), airing live on Sky Sports in the UK and ESPN+ in the US. The announcement was made during the MVPW-06 UK vs USA: Mikaela Mayer vs. Chantelle Cameron kickoff press conference today at Glaziers Hall in London, England, as Skye Nicolson joined MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian onstage in a surprise appearance.
Nicolson joins MVP’s global roster of elite athletes while also becoming the first athlete to compete as part of MVP’s and Matchroom’s landmark strategic alliance. Nicolson joins a decorated roster of fellow Australian signees at MVP including Australia’s first-ever undisputed champion in the four belt era, male or female, Cherneka Johnson, unified unified IBF and WBO middleweight world champion Desley Robinson, and former IBF bantamweight world champion Ebanie Bridges.
Skye Nicolson was born and raised in Queensland, Australia to an English mother and Scottish father. She began boxing at age 12, following in the footsteps of her late brother. Her stellar amateur career saw over 150 fights around the world including a Commonwealth Games gold medal, bronze at the amateur world championships, and representing Team Australia in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, where she finished as a quarter-finalist. Off the back of the Olympics, she signed a long-term promotional deal with Matchroom and began a very active professional career that skyrocketed her to her first world title in just her 10th professional fight, defeating Sarah Mahfoud for the WBC featherweight title in 2024. Now 16-1 as a professional, Nicolson most recently rose to Interim champion and mandatory challenger for the WBC 122lbs title. Shortly after, the belt was vacated by former undisputed champion Ellie Scotney, and Nicolson was elevated to become a two-time, two-division WBC world champion in May 2026. Entering this next chapter under the MVP and Matchroom strategic alliance, the 30-year-old prepares to unify the super bantamweight division and aims to be part of the biggest fights in women’s boxing.
“Women’s boxing is entering a new era, and I want to be right at the centre of it. This partnership with MVP and Matchroom gives me the opportunity to chase legacy, compete in the biggest fights out there, and help continue pushing women’s boxing forward,” said Skye Nicolson. “My goal has always been to test myself against the very best and be involved in the biggest fights in women’s boxing. I truly believe this move puts me in the best possible position to do exactly that. I’m excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait for this next chapter of my career to unfold.”
Nicolson also joins MVP’s global roster of Olympic talent at MVP, including US Olympian Mikaela Mayer, Team Great Britain Olympian Caroline Dubois, 2x Canadian Olympian Tamm Thibeault, US Olympic bronze medalist Oshae Jones, US Olympian Jahmal Harvey, 2x Brazilian Olympian Keno Marley, and Germany’s Olympic bronze medalist Nelvie Tiafack.
"Skye is one of the most recognizable athletes in women's boxing today," said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. "As a two-division world champion, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Olympian, and one of Australia's biggest stars, she represents the caliber of athlete we're building MVP around. Since launching MVPW, our mission has been to create the premier global platform for women's boxing by bringing together the sport's biggest champions and delivering the biggest fights. Skye shares that vision and ambition, and together we're excited to help create the defining moments of the next chapter of her career, beginning with her world title defense against another outstanding former champion in Miyo Yoshida on Saturday, August 29."
Miyo Yoshida is a three-time, two-division world champion from Kagoshima, Japan. A former IBF bantamweight world champion and two-time WBO junior bantamweight world champion, Yoshida has established herself as one of Japan's most accomplished female fighters. She made history as one of only a handful of Japanese women to win world titles in multiple weight classes and has earned recognition for her technical skill, resilience, and championship pedigree. Known as the "Fighting Single Mother" in Japan, Yoshida is a former The Ring Most Inspirational Female Fighter award recipient and a revered role model both inside and outside the ring. After relocating to the United States, she now trains at the legendary Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, New York. Yoshida most recently earned a victory over Edith de Jesus Flores in April 2026, following a unanimous decision win over Beata Dudek in February 2025. She captured the IBF bantamweight world title with a dominant unanimous decision over Ebanie Bridges in December 2023 after accepting the fight on less than two weeks' notice.
"Many people see Skye Nicolson as the favorite and I understand why as she is an excellent fighter,” said Miyo Yoshida. “But I have dedicated my life to boxing and I am prepared to give everything for this opportunity. I promise the fans will see a fearless Miyo Yoshida. I will bring the heart of Japan, my experience as a three-time World Champion and everything I have into this fight. On fight night, I believe the world will see me crowned as the new WBC Super Bantamweight Champion."
For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions and @skyebnic, or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions and @skyebnic.
