(AUG 8) Undisputed bantamweight world champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson will defend her WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles
against undefeated former unified champion Dina Thorslund tonight, Saturday,
August 8, 2026, in the main event of MVPW-05 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando,
Florida. Organized by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the highly anticipated
10-round showdown marks a definitive clash to determine the true queen of the
118-pound division.
The main card broadcasts live on ESPN and the ESPN
App in the United States starting at 10:00 PM ET, with main
event ring walks expected at approximately 11:30 PM ET.
The historical backdrop of tonight's fight injects intense
rivalry into the matchup. Thorslund (24-0, 9 KOs) previously
held the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles but vacated them in
June 2025 due to pregnancy. Australia's Johnson (19-2, 8 KOs)
subsequently stepped into the vacant slot, defeating Shurretta
Metcalf in July 2025 to collect the remaining belts and secure
undisputed status. Having returned to the ring earlier this
year, Thorslund is strictly focused on reclaiming the undisputed
crown she never lost in action.
Official Fighter Quotes
Cherneka Johnson, Undisputed Bantamweight Champion:
"Now is my time to show what I am truly capable of. This is the
fight I always knew would bring out the best version of me, and
I plan to do exactly that — take my belts home.
"A lot of people in here still look at Dina as the queen of the
bantamweight division. She's got something I want, and I'm going
to take that and all of these belts back home.
"I feel like every fighter has weak spots and I have a very good
team around me. We do a lot of study and have got a really good
game plan coming into fight night. I do know I'm going to be
ready for whatever she brings. Whether she wants to have a
scrap. Whether she wants to box. I believe that I can combat all
of it."
Dina Thorslund, Undefeated Challenger:
"There's a lot of emotion in this fight for me. I'm too
experienced [to let it] have a bad effect on me. It's deeper
motivation than before now.
"My aim is to stop her. That is the high aim for me, and I'm not
going to stop until I get the win. If I win by decision, fine,
but the aim is to stop her."
Fight Card Details
·
Main Event:
Cherneka Johnson vs. Dina Thorslund (10 Rounds, Undisputed
Female Bantamweight Championship)
·
Co-Main Event:
Desley Robinson vs. Tamm Thibeault (10 Rounds, Unified WBO & IBF
Female Middleweight Championship)
·
Venue:
Caribe Royale Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA
·
Media Coverage:
Live on ESPN / ESPN App (US), Sky Sports (UK)
WBAN / IWBHF
WBAN Instagram
WBAN Facebook
WBAN / IWBHF
WEBSITES
www.womensboxing.org
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www.floridaboxing.com
www.iwbhf.com
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