Cherneka Johnson

Last updated

Cherneka Johnson
Born
Cherneka Lee Johnson

(1995-03-03) 3 March 1995 (age 30)
Tauranga, New Zealand
NationalityMāori
Other namesSugar Neekz
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Reach64+1⁄2 in (164 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights19
Wins18
Wins by KO8
Losses2
Medal record
Women's Boxing
Representing Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
AIBA Women’s Junior World
Boxing Championships Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2011 AntalyaBantamweight

Cherneka Johnson (born 3 March 1995) is an Australian professional boxer. Born in New Zealand, she represents Australia in international competition. [1] She has been undisputed female bantamweight champion since July 2025 and previously held the IBF female super-bantamweight title.

Contents

Early life

Johnson was born in Tauranga, New Zealand to a family of Māori (Ngāti Ranginui) descent. [2] She is the eldest of three, with one brother and one sister. [3] In 2007, aged 11, she moved to Australia and settled on the Gold Coast. [4] Johnson first tried boxing at a local PCYC in 2008 [5] and soon after joined the Albert Boxing Club on the Gold Coast to train under Allan Nicolson Jr [6] alongside future world champions Skye Nicolson and Che Kenneally. [7] [8] She moved to Warrnambool in 2016 in pursuit of a professional boxing career [9] and remained there until 2023 when she relocated back to Queensland and settled on the Gold Coast where she trains in Coolangatta. [10]

Amateur career

Johnson began her amateur boxing career in the in 2011 a few years after she moved to Australia. [3] 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. [11]

Amateur boxing titles

Professional career

Johnson made her professional boxing debut in 2016 against Napaporn Ruengsuwan winning the fight by second round stoppage. [11] 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. [12] 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. [13] A few months later, Johnson fought for the WIBA World bantamweight title against Thailand boxer Rungnapha Kaewkrachang. Johnson won the fight by stoppage. [14] In August 2018, Johnson competed in her tenth professional boxing fight against Thailand boxer Siriphon Chanbuala. [15] Johnson won the fight by second round Knockout. [16]

In March 2021, Johnson fought Shannon O'Connell for the WBA Gold World Bantamweight title losing by split decision. [14] 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. [17] [18] In October 2022, Johnson defended her world title against Susie Ramadan on the Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr II undercard. [19] Johnson won the fight by unanimous decision, becoming the first Maori World champion boxer to successfully defend a world title. [20]

In November 2022, Johnson signed with promoter Lou DiBella under DiBella Entertainment. [21] On 10 June 2023, in London, England, Johnson lost her title to Ellie Scotney by unanimous decision. [22] 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. [23] [24]

In the aftermath, the WBA made Hughes the mandatory challenger for the title and a rematch was scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia, on 22 March 2025. [25] Johnson won by stoppage in the seventh round. [26]

In her sixth consecutive world title fight, Johnson faced Shurretta Metcalf for the undisputed female bantamweight title on 11 July 2025, at Madison Square Garden in New York. [27] [28] [29] She won by stoppage in the ninth round. [30] [31] [32]

Media appearances

In 2022, Johnson competed on the reality competition series The Challenge: Australia . [33]

Professional boxing record

20 fights18 wins2 losses
By knockout80
By decision102
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
20Won18–2 Shurretta Metcalf TKO9 (10), 0:0211 Jul 2025 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won undisputed female bantamweight title
19Win17–2Nina HughesTKO7 (10), 0:4622 Mar 2025 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, AustraliaRetained the WBA female bantamweight title
18Win16–2 Nina Hughes MD1012 May 2024 RAC Arena, Perth, AustraliaWon WBA female bantamweight title
17Loss15–2 Ellie Scotney UD1010 Jun 2023Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United KingdomLost IBF female Super bantamweight title
16Win15–1 Susie Ramadan UD1016 Oct 2022Rod Laver Arena, Victoria, Melbourne, AustraliaDefended IBF female Super bantamweight title
15Win14–1Melissa EsquivelMD1020 Apr 2022Melbourne Convention Centre, Victoria, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant IBF female Super bantamweight title
14Loss13–1 Shannon O'Connell SD1013 Mar 2021Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, AustraliaFor vacant WBA Gold female bantamweight title
13Win13–0Nurshahidah RoslieUD618 Dec 2019 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia
12Win12–0Arasa NimnoiTKO1 (6), 1:389 Aug 2019The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
11Win11–0KirtiUD615 May 2019 The Star, Sydney, Australia
10Win10–0Siriphon ChanbualaKO2 (6), 1:456 Jul 2018The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
9Win9–0Rungnapha KaewkrachangTKO4 (8), 1:5617 Mar 2018The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant WIBA bantamweight title
8Win8–0Gretel de PazUD89 Dec 2017Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Australia
7Win7–0Febriyanti LubisTKO2 (8), 0:2521 Oct 2017Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
6Win6–0Saowaluk NareepangsriUD524 Jun 2017Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane, Australia
5Win5–0Carol EarlUD618 Mar 2017Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
4Win4–0Ratsadaporn KhiaosopaTKO1 (6), 1:558 Oct 2016Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
3Win3–0Daorueng PakkhetanangUD413 Aug 2016 Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
2Win2–0Atitaya SaisinUD411 Jun 2016 Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Australia
1Win1–0Napaporn RuengsuwanTKO1 (4), 1:459 Apr 2016Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Australia

See also

References

  1. ↑ Woods, Melissa (20 April 2022). "Kiwi Cherneka Johnson wins women's boxing world title". The New Daily. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  2. ↑ Paranihi, Eru (11 May 2017). "Ngāti Ranginui boxer "Sugar Neekz" eyes Pacquiao undercard". Womens Boxing Archive Network. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 ""Sugar" Neekz Johnson Set to make her pro debut in 2016". Womens Boxing Archive Network. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  4. ↑ Mirzabegian, Sacha (11 July 2025). "Cherneka Johnson becomes first undisputed Aussie champ in four-belt era in historic win at Madison Square Garden". Nine Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Sugar Neekz - About Me". sugarneekzjohnson.com. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  6. ↑ O'Neill, Michael (13 October 2014). "Shelley Watts heads strong Australian team at AIBA Women's World's in Jeju Island". Women Boxing Archive Network. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  7. ↑ Lamb, Jessica (6 April 2024). "Aussie women fight a path from backyard Gold Coast shed to world boxing title contention". ABC News. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  8. ↑ Lamb, Jessica (11 March 2012). "Boxing's first family puts on kid gloves". Courier Mail. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Ansell, Nick (19 September 2017). "Professional fighter Neekz Johnson vying to further her fighting career after moving to Warrnambool". The Standard. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Kiwi pro boxer Cherneka Johnson reveals why she started OnlyFans". The New Zealand Herald . 19 July 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  11. 1 2 "CHERNEKA JOHNSON ON AMATEUR PEDIGREE, PROFESSIONAL TRANSITION". bendigo advertiser. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  12. ↑ Raspanti, John J. (11 October 2016). "Moloney brothers mirror each other with stoppage wins". Max Boxing. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "Ngāti Ranginui boxer Cherneka Johnson to fight for world title". teaonews.co.nz. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  14. 1 2 Watt, Benjamin Thomas (4 March 2022). "Tauranga-born boxer fighting for world title". Sun Live. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ Brown, Nick (8 July 2018). "World title fight in Warrambool looms a real chance for Neekz". The Standard. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  17. ↑ Christ, Scott (20 April 2022). "Michael Zerafa stops Isaac Hardman in two, Cherneka Johnson wins IBF title". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ Gillen, Nancy (18 October 2022). "Cherneka Johnson left drenched in blood after brutal Susie Ramadan fight". Give Me Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "Cherneka Johnson: the first wahine Māori to retain a world boxing title". RNZ . 23 October 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "Tauranga Born World Champion Signs With A Major Promoter". Scoop. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  22. ↑ Taylor, Declan (10 June 2023). "Ellie Scotney Outworks Cherneka Johnson Over Ten, Captures IBF Title". BoxingScene.com.
  23. ↑ "Hughes loses title after farcical scoreboard scences". BBC Sport. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  24. ↑ "On Second Thought, Cherneka Johnson Bests Nina Hughes After All". Boxing Scene. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  25. ↑ "Hughes given March date for world title re-match". BBC Sport. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  26. ↑ "Hughes beaten by Johnson in world-title rematch". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  27. ↑ "Dina Thorslund withdraws from July 11 bout; Cherneka Johnson in". ESPN. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  28. ↑ "Cherneka Johnson Replaces Pregnant Dina Thorslund, To Face Shurretta Metcalf On July 11". The Ring. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  29. ↑ "Cherneka Johnson steps in to face Shurretta Metcalf on Taylor-Serrano 3 undercard". FIGHTMAG. 6 June 2025.
  30. ↑ "Cherneka Johnson stops Shurretta Metcalf to earn undisputed at 118". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  31. ↑ "Cherneka Johnson dominates at MSG to become new undisputed bantamweight champion". The Sporting News. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  32. ↑ "Cherneka Johnson becomes first undisputed Aussie champ in four-belt era in historic win at Madison Square Garden". Nine. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
  33. ↑ "Meet The Cast Of The Challenge Australia 2022". 10 Play . 10 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
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
Preceded by IBF bantamweight champion
11 July 2025 – present
Vacant
Title last held by
Dina Thorslund 		WBC bantamweight champion
11 July 2025 – present
WBO bantamweight champion
11 July 2025 – present
The Ring bantamweight champion
11 July 2025 – present
Inaugural champion Undisputed bantamweight champion
11 July 2025 – present
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