Cherneka Johnson

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Cherneka Johnson
Born
Cherneka Lee Johnson

(1995-03-03) 3 March 1995 (age 29)
Tauranga, New Zealand
NationalityAustralian
Other namesSugar Neekz
Statistics
Weight(s)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights18
Wins16
Wins by KO6
Losses2
Medal record
Women's Boxing
Representing  Australia
AIBA Women’s Junior World
Boxing Championships Games
Gold medal – first place 2011 Antalya Bantamweight

Cherneka Johnson (born 3 March 1995) is a New Zealand-Australian professional boxer. Born in New Zealand, she represents Australia in international competition.[1] She is a two-weight world champion currently holding the WBA female bantamweight World title having previously been IBF female super-bantamweight World champion.

Amateur career[edit]

Johnson began her boxing career in the amateur division in 2011 after she moved to Australia.[2] When fighting in international competitions she would represent Australia. In the four AIBA World Boxing Amateur Championships she has won the 2011 Junior World Championships, came 5th in the 2013 Youth World Championships and reached top 16 in the Elite World Championships in 2012 and 2014. She has won multiple National titles including three Australian national championships and three Golden Gloves championships. Johnson ended her amateur boxing career, competing in over 60 amateur boxing fights.[3]

Amateur boxing titles[edit]

  • 2011 AIBA Women's Junior World Boxing Championships Games
  • 2012 China Youth world championships
  • 2014 China elite world championships
  • Five time Queensland State Champion
  • Three time Australian National Champion
  • Three time Golden Gloves Champion

Professional career[edit]

Johnson made her professional boxing debut in 2016 against Napaporn Ruengsuwan winning the fight by second round stoppage.[3] After two more wins, Johnson ended 2016 with the fourth fight in her career, taking on Thailand boxer Ratsadaporn Khiaosopa. This was the second time in her career where Johnson won the fight by stoppage, but this time in the first round.[4] After a successful 2017, Johnson last fight of the year was against Filipino boxer Gretel de Paz for the WBA Oceania Bantamweight title. Johnson won the fight by unanimous decision. A few months later, Johnson fought for the WIBA World bantamweight title against Thailand boxer Rungnapha Kaewkrachang. Johnson won the fight by stoppage.[5] In August 2018, Johnson competed in her tenth professional boxing fight against Thailand boxer Siriphon Chanbuala.[6] Johnson won the fight by second round Knockout.[7]

In March 2021, Johnson fought Shannon O'Connell for the WBA Gold World Bantamweight title losing by split decision.[5] In April 2022, Johnson defeated Mexican boxer Melissa Esquivel by split decision to win the IBF World Super Bantamweight title, becoming the second Maori, third New Zealand female, fourth New Zealand born and seventh New Zealand citizen to win a major World boxing title.[8][9] In October 2022, Johnson defended her world title against Susie Ramadan on the Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr II undercard.[10] Johnson won the fight by unanimous decision, becoming the first Maori World champion boxer to successfully defend a world title.[11]

In November 2022, Johnson signed with promoter Lou DiBella under DiBella Entertainment.[12] On 10 June 2023, in London, England, Johnson lost her title to Ellie Scotney by unanimous decision.[13] Johnson became a two-time world champion when she defeated the previously unbeaten WBA female bantamweight World title holder Nina Hughes at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, on 12 May 2024 by majority decision. The victory was marred by confusion when ring announcer Dan Hennessey initially declared Hughes the winner before correcting himself and announcing Johnson as the victor.[14] [15]

Professional boxing record[edit]

18 fights 16 wins 2 losses
By knockout 6 0
By decision 10 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
18 Win 16–2 Nina Hughes MD 10 12 May 2024 RAC Arena, Perth, Australia Won WBA female bantamweight title
17 Loss 15–2 Ellie Scotney UD 10 10 Jun 2023 Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom Lost IBF female Super bantamweight title
16 Win 15–1 Susie Ramadan UD 10 16 Oct 2022 Rod Laver Arena, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia Defended IBF female Super bantamweight title
15 Win 14–1 Melissa Esquivel MD 10 20 Apr 2022 Melbourne Convention Centre, Victoria, Melbourne, Australia Won vacant IBF female Super bantamweight title
14 Loss 13–1 Shannon O'Connell SD 10 13 Mar 2021 Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Australia For vacant WBA Gold female bantamweight title
13 Win 13–0 Nurshahidah Roslie UD 6 18 Dec 2019 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia
12 Win 12–0 Arasa Nimnoi TKO 1 (6), 1:38 9 Aug 2019 The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
11 Win 11–0 Kirti UD 6 15 May 2019 The Star, Sydney, Australia
10 Win 10–0 Siriphon Chanbuala KO 2 (6), 1:45 6 Jul 2018 The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
9 Win 9–0 Rungnapha Kaewkrachang TKO 4 (8), 1:56 17 Mar 2018 The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia Won vacant WIBA bantamweight title
8 Win 8–0 Gretel de Paz UD 8 9 Dec 2017 Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Australia
7 Win 7–0 Febriyanti Lubis TKO 2 (8), 0:25 21 Oct 2017 Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
6 Win 6–0 Saowaluk Nareepangsri UD 5 24 Jun 2017 Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane, Australia
5 Win 5–0 Carol Earl UD 6 18 Mar 2017 Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
4 Win 4–0 Ratsadaporn Khiaosopa TKO 1 (6), 1:55 8 Oct 2016 Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
3 Win 3–0 Daorueng Pakkhetanang UD 4 13 Aug 2016 Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
2 Win 2–0 Atitaya Saisin UD 4 11 Jun 2016 Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Australia
1 Win 1–0 Napaporn Ruengsuwan TKO 1 (4), 1:45 9 Apr 2016 Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Australia

Personal life[edit]

Johnson moved to Australia at the age of 12.[2] She is of Maori descent of the iwi Ngāti Ranginui.[16] She is the eldest of three, with one brother and one sister.[2]

Media appearances[edit]

In 2022, Johnson competed on the reality competition series The Challenge: Australia.[17]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Woods, Melissa (20 April 2022). "Aussie Cherneka Johnson wins women's boxing world title". The New Daily. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c ""Sugar" Neekz Johnson Set to make her pro debut in 2016". Womens Boxing Archive Network. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "CHERNEKA JOHNSON ON AMATEUR PEDIGREE, PROFESSIONAL TRANSITION". bendigo advertiser. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  4. ^ Raspanti, John J. (11 October 2016). "Moloney brothers mirror each other with stoppage wins". Max Boxing. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b Watt, Benjamin Thomas (4 March 2022). "Tauranga-born boxer fighting for world title". Sun Live. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  6. ^ Cooks, Anthony (5 July 2018). ""Sugar Neekz" Johnson gunning for 10th straight win against Siriphon Chanbuala this Friday". Ring News 24. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  7. ^ Brown, Nick (8 July 2018). "World title fight in Warrambool looms a real chance for Neekz". The Standard. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  8. ^ Christ, Scott (20 April 2022). "Michael Zerafa stops Isaac Hardman in two, Cherneka Johnson wins IBF title". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  9. ^ Watt, Benjamin Thomas (21 April 2022). "Tauranga-born Cherneka Johnson becomes second Māori to win a world boxing title". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  10. ^ Gillen, Nancy (18 October 2022). "Cherneka Johnson left drenched in blood after brutal Susie Ramadan fight". Give Me Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Cherneka Johnson: the first wahine Māori to retain a world boxing title". RNZ. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Tauranga Born World Champion Signs With A Major Promoter". Scoop. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  13. ^ Taylor, Declan (10 June 2023). "Ellie Scotney Outworks Cherneka Johnson Over Ten, Captures IBF Title". BoxingScene.com.
  14. ^ "Hughes loses title after farcical scoreboard scences". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  15. ^ "On Second Thought, Cherneka Johnson Bests Nina Hughes After All". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  16. ^ Paranihi, Eru (11 May 2017). "Ngāti Ranginui boxer "Sugar Neekz" eyes Pacquiao undercard". Womens Boxing Archive Network. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Meet The Cast Of The Challenge Australia 2022". 10 Play. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Minor World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Tyrieshia Douglas 		WIBA bantamweight champion
17 March 2018 – 2019
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Rosalinda Rodríguez
Major World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Daniela Romina Bermúdez 		IBF super-bantamweight champion
20 April 2022 – 10 June 2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by WBA bantamweight champion
12 May 2024 – present 		Incumbent
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