Johnson and Hughes out to eliminate all doubt in highly-anticipated world title rematch

Cloaked in controversy with a build-up strung out just long enough to ensure anticipation is at its peak, Cherneka Johnson and Nina Hughes’ second showdown for the WBA World Bantamweight title is pretty much the perfect rematch. 

For starters, the stakes when the Brit and the Aussie clash again at Sydney’s 21,000-seat Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday March 22 go well beyond the right of the victor to call themselves world champion. 

For Britain’s dethroned former champion Hughes, the rematch is a somewhat angst-ridden chance to return to enemy territory and right what she believes was a serious wrongdoing. 

For Australia’s Johnson, a belated first title defense is a career-defining chance to ensure that the public gaze remains primarily focused on her athletic achievements. 

 

Followers of both fighters will recall the chaotic scenes at the end of their first bout, when Hughes was declared a majority decision winner only for the fighters to be immediately recalled to centre ring for the contest to be awarded to Johnson. 

The debacle – which seemed to be an unfortunate ring announcer error – unfortunately overshadowed what had been a great, at times ferocious, contest. 

It also added to Hughes’ strong impression that she’d been totally ripped off. 

Needless to say, a return to Australia for the rematch was not her preferred option. 

“Obviously when we first found out we had to go back to Australia it was a massive concern,” Hughes told IFL TV. 

“You worry – what happened last time, is it going to happen again? But the date is set, the venue is set, that side of things is taken out of my hands. 

Mark Robinson / Matchroom

“All I can do is perform to the best of my ability and I believe as long as I perform I will get that win.” 

While there is no bad blood between the fighters, Johnson is bemused by Hughes’ call for neutral judges second time around. 

“For the last fight we had an Australian judge, a Mexican judge and a Japanese judge,” says Johnson. 

“They had over 2,000 bouts between them. So I feel like that is pretty neutral considering I’m from New Zealand!” 

Which brings us to the issue of the Kiwi-born, Aussie-raised fighter who goes by the alias ‘Sugar Neekz’ truly defining herself on the global sporting stage. 

An athlete first and foremost

Like the legendary racehorse Phar Lap (born in Timaru but claimed by Australia due to having won a bunch of races in the Lucky Country), Johnson is the subject to a classic trans-Tasman ownership dispute. 

Having moved from New Zealand’s Tauranga to Australia at the age of 12, Johnson sounds like an Aussie but could hardly look more Kiwi. 

Her back and shoulder tattoos – which represent strength, determination and protection - and a link to her Ngati Ranganui heritage reveal the Kiwi within. 

“When I grew up we were always down at the marae, down at Ngati Ranganui. I miss home and I do feel I don’t keep up with my culture enough.” 

Of course, the tattoos are not the only revealing aspect of a fighter who has famously fronted a weigh-in clad mainly in body paint and whose primary sponsor is OnlyFans. 

Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

One of women’s boxing’s most glamourous personalities, Johnson is forthright about cashing in on her looks to bolster her profile - and with it her bottom line. 

“[OnlyFans] has pretty much paid me more than all of my fights put together. I was getting to a point where I was struggling to find a suitable job and income that allowed me to survive and train and perform at my best. 

“Women’s boxing is atrocious in terms of pay – and this is my job. If I can get that extra support to at some point be able to own my own first home and provide for my kids in the future then I am going to take those opportunities.” 

It is an opportunity, though, that has the potential to come at a cost to her sporting credibility. 

A recent article in the Gold Coast resident’s local newspaper about the rematch didn’t mention her world champion status in its headline, instead going with: “OnlyFans star wants to go viral with her fists”. 

While she laughs off the descriptor, a content creator for an adult-themed website is not how Johnson defines herself. 

“I’m a full-time athlete. Everyone is going to have their own views. I’m confident in myself and confident to be in the position where I can say ‘hey look, I’m an OnlyFans athlete’.” 

A fitting rematch with an edge

The fighters’ reactions as the farcical scenes played out in Perth’s RAC Arena following the first contest between the pair are revealing.

Hughes, understandably, is at first delighted as she is awarded the fight, then confused as the announcement starts over, and finally absolutely furious when Johnson is belatedly declared the winner. 

Johnson, on the other hand, is near enough expressionless when Hughes’ hand is errantly raised in victory. She certainly doesn’t seem aghast at the decision.  

“Hand on heart I do think I won that fight,” Johnson says. 

“I’m not somebody to give away too many emotions – humble in defeat and gracious in victory. You win some, you lose some. I felt like I won that one but I wasn’t going to kick up a stink about it in front of everyone.” 

Fittingly for the perfect rematch, neither fighter feels the second edition is going to be a similarly close affair. 

Hughes says she is fitter, stronger and setting personal bests in the gym – a conditioning edge that will see her be an even clearer victor in a contest that is part of a blockbuster treble bill featuring Skye Nicolson’s WBC World Featherweight title defence against Tiara Brown and George Kambosos Jr. taking on Jake Wyllie in a main event that will put the winner on the cusp of a world title challenge. 

“Age is not catching up yet,” insists the 42-year-old Hughes.  

Johnson is having none of it. 

“I’ve had a win against her before and I am going to do it again – but more convincingly.” 

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