Cherneka Johnson
Cherneka Johnson | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Cherneka Lee Johnson 3 March 1995 | ||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Australian[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Other names | Neekz Johnson Sugar Neekz | ||||||||||||||
| Statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Weight(s) | |||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||
| Boxing record[1] | |||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 15 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 14 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 1 | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||
Cherneka Lee Johnson (born 3 March 1995) is a professional boxer who has held the IBF female junior-featherweight title since April 2022. Born in New Zealand, she represents Australia in international competition.[3]
In her career, Johnson has won three major boxing titles which also include winning the WBA Oceania female bantamweight title in 2017 against Filipino boxer Gretel de Paz,[4] and the WIBA bantamweight title in 2018 against Thailand boxer Rungnapha Kaewkrachang.[5] In 2021, Johnson fought Shannon O'Connell for the WBA Gold female bantamweight title. The fight was close, however, Shannon O'Connell won the fight by split decision.[6]
Amateur career
Johnson began her boxing career in the amateur division in 2011 after she moved to Australia.[7] 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.[8]
Professional career
Debut to Regional Champion 2016 - 2018
Johnson made her professional boxing debut in 2016 against Thailand Napaporn Ruengsuwan who was also making their professional debut. Johnson won the fight by second round stoppage.[8] After two more wins, Johnson ended her 2016 year 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.[9] 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. After the fight, Johnson peaked in the world boxing rankings second in the IBF and sixth in the WBA.[10] In August 2018, Johnson competed in her tenth professional boxing fight against Thailand boxer Siriphon Chanbuala.[11] Johnson won the fight by second round Knockout.[12]
Becoming World Champion 2019 - Present
In 2019, Johnson had a very successful year by defeating boxers with great records including Kirti, Arasa Nimnoi, Nurshahidah Roslie.[10] Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, Johnson was not able to fight during 2020. In March 2021, Johnson fought Shannon O'Connell for the WBA Gold World Bantamweight title. The fight was a close fight, however, O'Connell won the fight by Split Decision.[10] In April 2022, Johnson took on Mexican boxer Melissa Esquivel for the IBF World Super Bantamweight title.[13] Johnson won the fight by Split Decision becoming the second Maori, third New Zealand female, fourth New Zealand born and seventh New Zealand citizen to win a major World boxing title.[14][15]
Personal life
Johnson moved to Australia at the age of 12.[7] She is of Maori descent of the iwi Ngāti Ranginui.[16] She is the eldest of three, having one brother and one sister.[7]
Amateur boxing titles
- 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 boxing titles
- World Boxing Association
- Oceania Bantamweight title
- Womens international Boxing Association
- World Bantamweight title
- International Boxing Federation
- World Super Bantamweight title
Professional boxing record
| 16 fights | 15 wins | 1 loss |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 9 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Win | 15-1 | Susie Ramadan | UD | 10 | 16 Oct 2022 | Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne | Retained IBF Junior Featherweight Title |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Melissa Esquivel | SD | 10 | 20 Apr 2022 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant IBF female junior-featherweight title |
| 14 | Lose | 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 | Retained WBA Oceania female bantamweight title Won vacant WIBA bantamweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Gretel de Paz | UD | 8 | 9 Dec 2017 | Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Australia | Won vacant WBA Oceania female bantamweight title |
| 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 |
Media appearances
In 2022, Johnson competed on the reality competition series The Challenge: Australia.[17]
References
- ^ "Boxing record for Cherneka Johnson". BoxRec.
- ^ a b BoxRec
- ^ Woods, Melissa (20 April 2022). "Aussie Cherneka Johnson wins women's boxing world title". The New Daily. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "DECEMBER 2017". Womens Boxing Archive Network. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Neekz Johnson Overpowers Rungnapha Kaewkrachang to WIBA Championship". Women of Boxing. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Pinda, Anthony (14 March 2021). "Michael Zerafa sends Anthony Mundine into retirement in first-round knockout". bendigo advertiser. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "CHERNEKA JOHNSON ON AMATEUR PEDIGREE, PROFESSIONAL TRANSITION". bendigo advertiser. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Raspanti, John J. (11 October 2016). "Moloney brothers mirror each other with stoppage wins". Max Boxing. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ a b c Watt, Benjamin Thomas (4 March 2022). "Tauranga-born boxer fighting for world title". Sun Live. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Brown, Nick (8 July 2018). "World title fight in Warrambool looms a real chance for Neekz". The Standard. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ McDonald, Kelvin (5 March 2022). "Ngāti Ranginui boxer Cherneka Johnson to fight for world title". Maori TV. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ Christ, Scott (20 April 2022). "Michael Zerafa stops Isaac Hardman in two, Cherneka Johnson wins IBF title". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Paranihi, Eru (11 May 2017). "Ngāti Ranginui boxer "Sugar Neekz" eyes Pacquiao undercard". Womens Boxing Archive Network. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Meet The Cast Of The Challenge Australia 2022". 10 Play. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
External links
- Boxing record for Cherneka Johnson from BoxRec (registration required)