Skye Nicolson loses world title, George Kambosos survives Queensland slugger Jake Wyllie
George Kambosos survived 12 rounds with Queensland slugger Jake Wyllie before calling out super-lightweight world Richardson Hitchens.
George Kambosos scored a bloody and bruising unanimous decision win over Jake Wyllie, but late-notice hero Wyllie won over plenty of new fans in pushing the former unified lightweight world champion the full 12 rounds at Qudos Bank Arena.
Kambosos was bloodied after a head clash in the ninth round, before claiming the win with scores of 117-111, 117-111 and 115-113.
“It was a good war, we gave Sydney a good war,” Kambosos said. “He’s a tough kid, he’s the best domestic guy at 140 outside of me.
“He’s got a lot more to give. He’s only 24. Good on him.
“I would’ve loved to put him away. He was fully prepared, he was the Australian champion, credit to him. A win is a win.”
Just needing a win to propel himself towards a super-lightweight world title shot against Richardson Hitchens, Kambosos was a level above the plucky replacement early on, but couldn’t find the finish.
Wyllie had bought a ticket to watch the fight in the stands, but answered the SOS call of promoter Eddie Hearn, stepping in on just one week’s notice after original opponent Daud Yordan pulled out.
A shot at @HeIsRichardson for the World Title next for @georgekambosos? 👀#KambososWylliepic.twitter.com/AaIVEigN8U
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 22, 2025
The Queenslander received a standing ovation in the ring moments after the result was announced.
“That was a war, it was brilliant,” Wyllie said. “I prepared for this on five days’ notice. I got the call on Sunday.
“I feel like I won so many people over tonight. I fought my heart out, and I believe I’m destined for great things.”
Contract from @MatchroomBoxing incoming for Jake Wyllie âœï¸
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 22, 2025
Well deserved ðŸ‘#KambososWylliepic.twitter.com/lyggUAZAvu
Kambosos proved he can carry the speed and power that saw him become the unified lightweight world champion up to super-lightweight.
He didn’t have it all his own way against the $6.50 underdog Wyllie though, and ‘Ferocious’ was forced to contend with a bad cut on his left eye.
The difference in class and experience was evident from the third round as Kambosos countered brilliantly.
Wyllie was rattled twice in the fifth, but laughed it off and had arguably his best round of the fight in the sixth.
Kambosos went to the body well in the eighth, slowing some of Wylie’s momentum, but a bad cut from a head-clash opened over his left eye to open the ninth.
Cutman Brian Wilmot worked overtime on the cut in the corner, before Wyllie went on the hunt in the 10th.
BAD CUT FOR KAMBOSOS 👀#KambososWyllie | Live NOW on DAZN pic.twitter.com/KR5zAOz4Qn
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 22, 2025
Wyllie remained dangerous until the final bell, before Kambosos called out American champion Hitchens, who he dubbed “Shit Chins.”
“Shit Chins don’t punch like that,” he said. “He’s a tip tap, running kind of guy. I know he’ll run.
“If that’s the fight, I’m all in. They say Hitchens is the best, let me go toe-to-toe with him.”
Hearn anointed Wyllie as “a new star in AUstralian boxing,” and said the Brisbane Broncos fan will have a contract with his Matchroom Boxing promotion, before confirming Kambosos will fight Hitchens later in the year.
“If that cut heals up, we’ve got a date, end of June,” he said. “He’s gotta be ready for that date, and if he is we’ve got a date for him to move forward for George Kambosos to fight in America and try to become a two-weight world champion.
“It’s what he deserves.
“Hitchens is ready to put it on the line, and that build-up will be spicy.”
NICOLSON LOSES TITLE IN SHOCK
Skye Nicolson has sensationally been beaten in her WBC featherweight world title defence by American challenger Tiara Brown.
A $7.50 underdog, Brown was the busier fighter, and claimed a razor-thin split decision with scores of 94-96, 96-94 and 97-93.
The shock result ends Nicolson’s title reign in her third defence.
After a heated build-up, full of bluster and trash talk, Brown collapsed to the ground as Nicolson was left with a rueful smile on her face.
“Skye fought Tiara’s fight tonight,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “I thought it could have gone either way.
“I thought it was 6-4 either way, and it went to the Australian judge (Phil Austin).
“I was very surprised by the 97-93.
“Skye made the mistake of fighting Tiara’s fight. There was some great body work, but she didn’t use her feet and she let Tiara make it a dogfight.”
It was an ugly, frustrating fight, with Brown consistently walking Nicolson down, making it a dogfight.
Nicolson, who prefers to operate at distance, was made to work harder than she ever has in her professional career.
The Ausse was warned in the fifth for a shot behind the head, and in the sixth for wrestling.
Brown was relentless through the closing rounds, forcing Nicolson to trade at close quarters, and not giving the Commonwealth Games gold medallist time to work.
They threw until the final bell, with both claiming victory before Brown took the decision.
Queensland’s heavyweight sensation Teremoana Jr made light work of James Singh, annihilating the overmatched Fijian inside one round.
Looking like some kind of superhero, Teremoana hit Singh at will before dropping him midway through the frame.
A relentless barrage forced the fight to be stopped to save Singh from taking any more punishment.
Teremoana burst into the limelight at the Paris Olympics, winning his first fight in a first round knockout, before going out in a closely contested decision to eventual gold medallist Bakhodir Jalolov.
Now 7-0 as a pro, Teremoana called out fellow Aussie heavyweight Jackson Murray.
“You keep mentioning Jackson Murray, who is this guy? He’s all talk,” he said. “If you want a fight, talk to my team and let’s get it on.
“I signed the contract two years ago, you didn’t sign it.
“You’re all talk. Let’s fight.”
Murray, (7-0) responded in quick time, telling this masthead: “A lot less chat when I saw you yesterday.
“Man’s gassed up after that win, and there’s never been a contract.
“Show me the money then, kid.”
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Originally published as Skye Nicolson loses world title, George Kambosos survives Queensland slugger Jake Wyllie
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