Tiara Brown wonders whether Skye Nicolson has the “gears” to keep up with her when they fight in Sydney, Australia on Saturday night.

Florida’s Brown, 18-0 (11 KOs), has travelled around the world to challenge Nicolson, 12-0 (1 KO), for her WBC featherweight title.

Throughout a good natured but spiky build-up, Brown has said that Nicolson was spoon-fed her world title and has described the Australian as a runner and a keyboard warrior.

Brown points to Nicolson’s title defence against Raven Chapman being selected as the first female world title fight to be placed on a Riyadh Season show as a sign of the way she has been guided to the top.

Nicolson outpointed Chapman in Saudi Arabia last October.

Brown doesn’t believe Nicolson had done enough to warrant that kind of showcase. She thinks the high profile, lucrative slot should have gone to one of the trailblazers who have elevated women’s boxing to its current lofty position.

“No, I don't because like I said it's not about me. It’s not about Skye. It's about the women that we are striving to be like; Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Claressa Shields,” she said during Matchroom’s virtual Face-Off show.

"We're striving to be like them and that was the opportunity that one of those women deserved and that is what I mean by spoon-fed.”

Brown has yet to be seriously tested - let alone beaten - during the near nine years she has spent fighting professionally. The 36 year-old has also displayed the ability to not only hurt but finish her opponents.

London-based Nicolson has sailed through her own career, travelling the world and barely losing a round as she cruised through the levels towards a world title. The 29 year-old southpaw is content to put her opponents in a straightjacket as early as possible and keep them there.

Brown believes that that ability to set a pace and seize the moment will be the difference on Saturday night. She doesn’t think that Nicolson will be able to match her when she cranks up the intensity.

“She's never had to switch gears in any of her professional fights. It’s the same Skye because no one has pushed her to have to go in that trick bag,” Brown said.

“I’m the same way in my professional career. No one has made me shift gears. I’ve been on my same tempo and what happens in the ring is what I allow.

“I know she’s gonna try to utilize the ring because she's great at that and I'm not going to allow her to do it. I will be switching gears and shifting gears and this is going to be the best fight of 2025.”