Cherneka Johnson

Cherneka Johnson (born 3 March 1995) is an Australian professional boxer. Born in New Zealand, she represents Australia in international competition. She was undisputed female bantamweight champion from July 2025 to August 2026 and previously held the IBF female super-bantamweight title.

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. 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 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 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 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 was scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia, on 22 March 2025. Johnson won by stoppage in the seventh round.

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. She won by stoppage in the ninth round.

Johnson was scheduled to make the first defense of her undisputed title against Amanda Galle at the Kaseya Center on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis fight on 14 November 2025. However, the event was cancelled less than two weeks before it was set to take place due Davis' legal issues. The contest was rescheduled to take place at the same venue on 19 December 2025 as part of the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight. Johnson won by unanimous decision.

She lost her undisputed title to Dina Thorslund via unanimous decision at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 8 August 2026.

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

Professional boxing record