AIBA Women’s Junior World Boxing Championships Games
2011 Antalya
Bantamweight
Cherneka Johnson (born 3 March 1995) is an 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.
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 12, she moved to Australia and settled in Brisbane[3] where she attended Victoria Point State High School throughout her upbringing.[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
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.[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 is scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia, on 22 March 2025.[25]
