# Cherneka Johnson

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

## Early life

Johnson was born in Tauranga, New Zealand to a family of Māori (Ngāti Ranginui) descent. She is the eldest of three, with one brother and one sister. In 2007, aged 12, she moved to Australia and settled in Brisbane where she attended Victoria Point State High School throughout her upbringing. Johnson first tried boxing at a local PCYC in 2008 and soon after joined the Albert Boxing Club on the Gold Coast to train under Allan Nicolson Jr alongside future world champions Skye Nicolson and Che Kenneally. She moved to Warrnambool in 2016 in pursuit of a professional boxing career and remained there until 2023 when she relocated back to Queensland and settled on the Gold Coast where she trains in Coolangatta.

## Amateur career

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

## 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 career

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. 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. In August 2018, Johnson competed in her tenth professional boxing fight against Thailand boxer Siriphon Chanbuala. Johnson won the fight by second round Knockout.
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. In October 2022, Johnson defended her world title against Susie Ramadan on the Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr II undercard. Johnson won the fight by unanimous decision, becoming the first Maori World champion boxer to successfully defend a world title.
In November 2022, Johnson signed with promoter Lou DiBella under DiBella Entertainment. On 10 June 2023, in London, England, Johnson lost her title to Ellie Scotney by unanimous decision. 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.
In the aftermath, the WBA made Hughes the mandatory challenger for the title and a rematch is scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia, on 22 March 2025.

## Media appearances

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

## Professional boxing record

| 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 | |