Cherneka Johnson


Cherneka Johnson is a New Zealand Māori professional boxer. Born in New Zealand, she represents Australia in international competition. She has been undisputed female bantamweight champion since July 2025 and previously held the IBF female super-bantamweight title.

Early life

Johnson was born in Tauranga, New Zealand to a family of Māori descent. She is the eldest of three, with one brother and one sister. In 2007, aged 11, she moved to Australia and settled on the Gold Coast. 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 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 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.

Media appearances

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

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
21Win19–2Amanda GalleUD1019 Dec 2025Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida, U.S.Retained WBA, IBF, WBC, WBO and The Ring female bantamweight titles
20Win18–2Shurretta MetcalfTKO9, 0:0211 Jul 2025Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained WBA female bantamweight title;
Won IBF, vacant WBC, WBO and The Ring female bantamweight titles
19Win17–2Nina HughesTKO7, 0:4622 Mar 2025Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, AustraliaRetained WBA female bantamweight title
18Win16–2Nina Hughes1012 May 2024RAC Arena, Perth, AustraliaWon WBA female bantamweight title
17Loss15–2Ellie Scotney1010 Jun 2023Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United KingdomLost IBF female super bantamweight title
16Win15–1Susie Ramadan1016 Oct 2022Rod Laver Arena, Victoria, Melbourne, AustraliaRetained IBF female super bantamweight title
15Win14–1Melissa Esquivel1020 Apr 2022Melbourne Convention Centre, Victoria, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant IBF female super bantamweight title
14Loss13–1Shannon O'Connell1013 Mar 2021Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, AustraliaFor vacant WBA Gold female bantamweight title
13Win13–0Nurshahidah RoslieUD618 Dec 2019Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia
12Win12–0Arasa NimnoiTKO1, 1:389 Aug 2019The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
11Win11–0KirtiUD615 May 2019The Star, Sydney, Australia
10Win10–0Siriphon Chanbuala2, 1:456 Jul 2018The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
9Win9–0Rungnapha KaewkrachangTKO4, 1:5617 Mar 2018The Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant WIBA bantamweight title
8Win8–0Gretel de PazUD89 Dec 2017Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Australia
7Win7–0Febriyanti LubisTKO2, 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, 1:558 Oct 2016Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
3Win3–0Daorueng PakkhetanangUD413 Aug 2016Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
2Win2–0Atitaya Saisin411 Jun 2016Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Australia
1Win1–0Napaporn Ruengsuwan1, 1:459 Apr 2016Warrnambool Stadium, Warrnambool, Australia