(JUNE 12) The second Maori world boxing champion Cherneka Johnson lost her second world title defence over the weekend in the UK against Ellie Scotney.

On the 10th of June (11th NZ time), Cherneka Johnson (Ngāti Ranginui) defended her IBF World Super Bantamweight title at the famous Wembley Arena. Johnson won the title in April 2022 against Mexican Melissa Esquivel, becoming the second-ever Maori world boxing champion, and then became the first Maori world champion who successfully defended the title in October 2022 against Australian veteran Susie Ramadan.

This fight was originally scheduled for May 20th in Dublin, Ireland, for Katie Taylor's homecoming fight. However, Scotney's current trainer had a negative history with Chantelle Cameron, who was Katie Taylor's opponent. Due to this, Johnson's world title defence was moved to a later date.

Johnson raised some eyebrows at the weigh-in leading into her world title defence, where she came in topless while wearing body paint. This was part of her sponsorship campaign with OnlyFans. 

As part of Johnson's entrance, a haka was performed by five Maori men while Johnson was wearing a Korowai. This is an amazing moment in boxing as this is the first time in boxing history that a haka was performed in England on a world stage that wouldn't normally be seen internationally. Johnson has always been proud of her Maori culture and wears the Tino Rangatiratanga flag after her fights. 

In the fight, she won a couple of rounds, but she was getting out punched by her English opponent. What didn't help was Johnson's eye got cut again in the sixth round. The same cut that she received in her famous fight against Susie Ramadan. Cuts like that will only shorten the boxers' career, as it did with Shane Cameron. After ten rounds of boxing, Ellie Scotney won the fight by unanimous decision. 

It is unknown what is next for Cherneka Johnson, but it will take time to heal after her cut. However, Johnson is signed with a major boxing promoter, Lou DiBella, at DiBella Entertainment, giving Johnson a bright future. As for the current world champion Ellie Scotney, Women's Fight Night Magazine has called for a massive fight between Ellie Scotney and Mea Motu. That would be the next dream fight.

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