(MAY 12) Tauranga-born Maori
(Ngāti Ranginui) Cherneka Johnson makes history by becoming the
second Maori boxer to become a two-division champion after
winning the WBA Bantamweight title against Nina Hughes. However,
it came with controversy.
After ten rounds of boxing, we go to the judge's scorecard for a
decision where we have a Majority decision winner. But
American-New Zealander Lt Dan Hennessey announced that the UK’s
reigning World champion, Nina Hughes would be the winner.
However, during the 41-year-old, Nina's celebration, Lt Dan
Hennessey would have a Ms Universe Steve Harvey moment and
announced that the winner was, in fact, Cherneka Johnson.
American commentators have said that Dan Hennessey was
inexperienced and that this botched announcement was the biggest
in history. They have said that this has never happened before.
Little do they know that Lt Dan Hennessey has been an MC in New
Zealand since the late 2000s, getting his big roles with David
Tua vs Shane Cameron, King of the Ring, Joseph Parker and many
major events in Australia and New Zealand.
Johnson made history when she won the IBF World Super
Bantamweight title in 2022, becoming the second Maori to win a
New Zealand world title, the first being the hall of famer
Daniella Smith in 2010. She does it against becoming the second
Maori to become a two-division world champion, the first being
Lani Daniels in 2023. However, Johnson has done one thing that
is a first.
Johnson has become the first Maori two-division world champion
with two different world-sanctioning bodies: the IBF in the past
and the WBA today.
The fight between Nina and Johnson was considered the fight of
the night for its high action between the two boxers. Nina's
fighting style can only be explained as similar to New Zealand
Maori and IBO Super Bantamweight Champion Mea Motu who has high
speed high punch count and very significant punch accuracy.
However, Nine started slowing down after three rounds.
Johnson was a slower but heavier hit and each punch was very
calculated each punch landed would move Nina's entire body.
The scorecards saw Australian Donovan Keilty 94-96 for Johnson,
Japanese Katsuhiko Nakamura 92-98 for Johnson and Humberto
Olivares 95-95 Draw with Johnson winning by Majority Decision.
Johnson wore the Tino Rangatiratanga flag after winning the
fight.
American promoter Lou DiBella stated that he was disgusted with
the MC's announcement. However, there was a rematch clause,
meaning these two would go at it again in the future.
Other results of the night: Russian-Australian Imam Khataev
defeats Latvian Ricards Bolotniks by 6th round TKO.
Mexican Pedro Guevara defeats Australian Andrew Moloney by split
decision, winning the WBC Interim World Super Flyweight title
with Moloney announcing his retirement after the fight, claiming
the sport is corrupted, and revealing a left biceps torn arm 8
days before the fight.
Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko defeated Australian George Kambosos
Jr. by 11th-round TKO via body shot for the IBF and IBO unified
World Lightweight titles. Kambosos received his first stoppage
loss of his career.
Australian Joseph Goodall defeated Samoan-Australian Faiga Opelu
by 10th-round TKO for the WBA Oceania heavyweight title. Opelu
received the fifth loss of his career, with others coming from
current interim WBO World champion Joseph Parker, former WBA
World Champion Lucas Browne, and current WBO Global Champion
Justis Huni.
Tongan-New Zealander Hemi Ahio defeats former WBA World
Heavyweight Champion Lucas Browne by 1st round TKO, avenging his
former stablemate Junior Fa, who lost to Lucas Browne in 2022.
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