(MAR 3) Tauranga, New
Zealand born Australian boxer Cherneka Johnson, 13-1-0
(6KO), will be going for the vacant IBF World Super
Bantamweight title on the 20th of April against Mexican boxer
Melissa Esquivel, 12-2-1 (4KO) at the Melbourne Convention
Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
Cherneka Johnson had a big
amateur boxing background before making her professional boxing
debut back in 2016. Since then she kept herself very busy
throughout her career.
She won her first professional title in December 2017 where she
defeated Filipino boxer Gretel de Paz for the vacant WBA Oceania
bantamweight title. A few months later she defeated Thailand
boxer Rungnapha Kaewkrachang by stoppage to win the vacant WIBA
World Bantamweight title. From there Johnson started climbing
the major boxing rankings, peaking at 2nd in the IBF and 6th in
the WBA.
She went on to defeat boxers with positive records including
Siriphon Chanbuala (12-5-2), Kirti (6-1-0), Arasa Nimnoi (4-3-0)
and former Thai national champion and interim WBC Opbf champion
Nurshahidah Roslie (14-3-0).
The last time we saw Johnson in the ring was on the undercard of
Michael Zerafa vs Anthony Mundine in March 2021 where she took
on Shannon O'Connell for the WBA Gold Bantamweight title. The
close fight went the full 10 rounds with O’Connell winning by
Split Decision, giving Johnson her first defeat.
If you don’t include the WBA Gold title, this is Cherneka
Johnson’s first full world title opportunity.
She will be going up against Mexican boxer Melissa Esquivel.
Esquivel made her professional boxing debut in 2017. She kept a
nine-fight undefeated record until she drew against Marisol
Corona in 2019 and later in the year lost against Paulette
Valenzuela by split decision.
Esquivel won her first professional boxing title in 2021 when
she won the WBC FECARBOX female super bantamweight title against
Marisol Corona in their rematch. The last time we saw her in the
ring was in November 2021 when she lost against Erika Cruz
Hernandez in Erika WBA World Bantamweight title defence.
Both boxers are coming off different variations of world title
fights. Both boxers are stepping up in weight to fight for a
chance to become World champion. Cherneka Johnson will have the
hometown advantage as the fight will be held in Australia.
The fight will be the Co-Main Event of the evening alongside the
IBF Middleweight eliminator Michael Zerafa vs Issac Hardman.
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