Skye Nicolson Team: Boxing Trainer, Promoter, Sparring Partners, and More

Boxing is often called the loneliest sport and for a good reason. In the ring, a boxer must fight alone, enduring immense physical and mental challenges. However, outside the ring, things are quite different. A lot goes on in the background before a boxer steps into the ring. The countless hours of hard work and sweat are what transform a new fighter into a polished boxer. But does a boxer achieve all this on their own? Far from it. To stand fearlessly against an opponent, there’s a dedicated team working just as hard behind the scenes to ensure success.

Tonight WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson will enter the ring to face Raven Chapman. The bout with the Englishwoman takes place on the undercard of the phenomenal Artur Beterbiev–Dmitry Bivol fight. Considering the fact that this is the second title defense for the rising featherweight star, who dreams of fighting Amanda Serrano, there’s an obvious curiosity to learn a bit more about her associates, her team—the people who have supported her through the highs and lows of her career. As the champion prepares to face Raven Chapman, let’s take a closer look at Team Skye Nicolson.

Meet Team Skye Nicolson: Trainer, Co-Trainers, and more…

Skye Nicolson started boxing when she was barely 12 years old. Apparently, her initial training was under her older brother Allan Nicolson Jr., reportedly at a boxing gym named after her late brother, Jamie Nicolson, an Australian amateur boxer who tragically died in a car accident.

As an amateur, Nicolson went on to win the gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. It followed her bronze medal-winning performance at the Asthana World Championships. Her dream, it seems, was to follow in her late brother’s footsteps and compete in the Olympics. But unfortunately, things didn’t turn out the way she wanted, as she had to bow out following the loss in the quarterfinals. Two years after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Skye Nicolson turned to professional boxing.

In an effort to capitalize on the growing women’s boxing scene in the United Kingdom, Nicolson decided to relocate to England. There at Bromley, a town in Greater London, she commenced her training under renowned trainer Eddie Lam. Along with close friend and mentor Al Smith, Lam runs the London-based Ibox Gym. The duo now proudly boasts a roster filled with notable names in the sport.

Another name that often crops up in Team Skye Nicolson is that of Bradley Skeete. The former British and Commonwealth welterweight title holder and now trainer retired from professional boxing in 2022, a few months after the loss to the rising star Hamza Sheeraz. Per a few social media posts, it appears there is a third important pillar in the team who works behind the curtains. That would be manager Paul Ready, director at STN (Second To None).

Promoter and Sparring partners

Like many fighters and champions, Skye Nicolson’s career saw a significant boost when she signed a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing in 2022. A highlight of that year was her maiden title win over Krystina Jacobs in front of a home crowd during Matchroom Boxing’s inaugural event at the Down Under.

Per available reports, from a young age, Skye Nicolson often sparred with boys. Speaking about her preparation in the lead-up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, she said, “Boys are obviously going to be stronger and faster than us, so it is more challenging sometimes when the female boxing level isn’t as high, so it’s harder to get quality rounds for training.”

Finding information on Nicolson’s sparring partners isn’t always easy. However, social media posts might give some clue about how Skye Nicolson prepares for her fights. For instance, an Instagram post by Eddie Lam from September 26 features Nicolson and her team standing beside upcoming featherweight prospect Tiah Main Ayton. Then roughly a week before the team it appears was in Germany. There they had a chance to spar with super featherweight Elif Nur Turhan.

It’s clear that creating a champion requires a dedicated team that invests time, energy, and expertise into the fighter’s success. Without their support, a boxer may never reach their full potential. So hats off to all trainers and supporting team members. Their contributions often go unnoticed, but they are essential to a boxer’s success.

As the year draws to a close, who would you personally consider for the 2024 Trainer of the Year award?