The classy southpaw was too quick and skilful for the former World Youth Champion winning every round. From the opening bell, Nicolson used her superior hand speed and footwork to stay out of trouble and counter punch.

The opening round established the pattern for the fight, IM coming forward and Nicolson landing with constant check hooks and clean straight lefts.

When IM did manage to place some pressure on Nicolson, the Australian remained calm and composed, either wrapping up her opponent or using the check hook and footwork to spin her.

IM never lost desire but was simply outclassed. While COVID has kept the Australians away from the international spotlight, it was a performance reminiscent of Nicolson’s journey to qualify for the Games.

While watching the qualifying tournament in Jordan, America’s two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Clarissa Shields took to social media to praise the Aussie saying: “Skye Nicolson is the most skilled female fighter that I've seen in the Asian/Oceania qualifiers!"

Later Shields went further declaring "Skye Nicolson’s is the best performance that I've seen out the males or females.”

Nicolson may be surprised when she sees who is waiting in the quarter finals, it isn’t the expected matchup against world number three Jucielen Romeu. In an upset the Brazilian went down in a unanimous decision to Great Britain’s Karris Artingstall.

Artingstall is another southpaw and the match-up with Nicolson promises to be intriguing. The winner will advance to the semi-finals and is therefore assured of at least a bronze medal.

Earlier, 24-year-old Australian Alex Winwood lost a close split decision in the opening round of the men’s flyweight division to Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba.

Winwood, one of a record 16 Indigenous members of Australia’s Olympic team, had already made a name for himself when he lit up the opening ceremony with a traditional dance as the Australians entered the stadium.

He needed every ounce of footwork against Chinyemba, who entered the ring with a massive height and reach advantage.

The first round saw Chinyemba use that reach to hold Winwood at bay and the man from Mandara in West Australia looked frustrated as he returned to the corner. Chinyemba was given the first round on all five scorecards.

Some wise words from head coach Kevin Smith, about coming in under his opponent and working first to the body and then over the top, did the trick and Winwood swung momentum his way during the second round.

He landed the best punch of the fight, with an overhand right and was awarded the round. That left the fight even going into the last.

The third round was nip and tuck, Winwood constantly trying to fight inside and Chinyemba shutting him down by holding and scoring with some good work at distance.

When the two came to the centre of the ring for the decision, quite rightly neither looked confident. In the end, the split decision was awarded to Chinyemba who will fight Great Britain’s Gall Yafai in the round of 16.