| Cherneka Johnson | |
| Realname: | Cherneka Lee Johnson |
| Birth Date: | 3 March 1995 |
| Birth Place: | Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Nickname: | Sugar Neekz |
| Weight: | |
| Style: | Orthodox |
| Total: | 18 |
| Wins: | 16 |
| Ko: | 6 |
| Losses: | 2 |
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 beenIBF female super-bantamweight World champion.
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]
Johnson made her professional boxing debut in 2016 against Napaporn Ruengsuwan winning the fight by second round stoppage. 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.[5] A few months later, Johnson fought for the WIBA World bantamweight title against Thailand boxer Rungnapha Kaewkrachang. Johnson won the fight by stoppage.[6] In August 2018, Johnson competed in her tenth professional boxing fight against Thailand boxer Siriphon Chanbuala.[7] Johnson won the fight by second round Knockout.[8]
In March 2021, Johnson fought Shannon O'Connell for the WBA Gold World Bantamweight title losing by split decision. 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.[9] [10] In October 2022, Johnson defended her world title against Susie Ramadan on the Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr II undercard.[11] Johnson won the fight by unanimous decision, becoming the first Maori World champion boxer to successfully defend a world title.[12]
In November 2022, Johnson signed with promoter Lou DiBella under DiBella Entertainment.[13] On 10 June 2023, in London, England, Johnson lost her title to Ellie Scotneyby unanimous decision.[14] 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.[15] [16]
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Win | 16–2 | Nina Hughes | 10 | 12 May 2024 | ||||
| 17 | Loss | 15–2 | Ellie Scotney | 10 | 10 Jun 2023 | ||||
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Susie Ramadan | 10 | 16 Oct 2022 | ||||
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Melissa Esquivel | 10 | 20 Apr 2022 | ||||
| 14 | Loss | 13–1 | Shannon O'Connell | 10 | 13 Mar 2021 | ||||
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Nurshahidah Roslie | UD | 6 | 18 Dec 2019 | |||
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Arasa Nimnoi | TKO | 1 (6), | 9 Aug 2019 | |||
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Kirti | UD | 6 | 15 May 2019 | |||
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Siriphon Chanbuala | 2 (6), | 6 Jul 2018 | ||||
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Rungnapha Kaewkrachang | TKO | 4 (8), | 17 Mar 2018 | |||
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Gretel de Paz | UD | 8 | 9 Dec 2017 | |||
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Febriyanti Lubis | TKO | 2 (8), | 21 Oct 2017 | |||
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Saowaluk Nareepangsri | UD | 5 | 24 Jun 2017 | |||
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Carol Earl | UD | 6 | 18 Mar 2017 | |||
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ratsadaporn Khiaosopa | TKO | 1 (6), | 8 Oct 2016 | |||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Daorueng Pakkhetanang | UD | 4 | 13 Aug 2016 | |||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Atitaya Saisin | 4 | 11 Jun 2016 | ||||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Napaporn Ruengsuwan | 1 (4), | 9 Apr 2016 |
Johnson moved to Australia at the age of 12. She is of Maori descent of the iwi Ngāti Ranginui.[17] She is the eldest of three, with one brother and one sister.
In 2022, Johnson competed on the reality competition series .[18]
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