Cherneka Johnson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional boxer who has held the IBF women’s featherweight title since 2022.
Born in New Zealand, she represents Australia in international competitions. She is known for her speed, power and skill in the ring, as well as her bold and confident personality outside the ring.
She has won several major boxing titles and has faced some of the best fighters in her weight class. She was also one of the first fighters to partner with OnlyFans, a platform that allows her to connect with her fans on a more personal level and diversify her income.
File
- Full Name: Cherneka Johnson
- Nickname: Neekz Johnson or Sugar Neekz
- Date of birth: March 3, 1995
- Age: 29 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Tauranga, New Zealand
- Nationality: New Zealand-Australia
- Occupation: Professional boxer
- Height: 5 feet 5 inches
- Parents: None
- Siblings: 3
- Spouse: None
- Children: None
- Relationship status: None
- Net worth: $4 million
Early life and education
Cherneka Johnson was born on March 3, 1995 in Tauranga, New Zealand and is about to turn 29. She has three siblings. She is of Mori descent, an indigenous people of New Zealand.
She moved to Australia with her family when she was 16 and settled in Brisbane. She attended St. Peter Claver College, a Catholic school in Ipswich, Queensland.
Johnson began her boxing career as an amateur in 2011 after moving to Australia. She will represent Australia internationally.
She won the 2011 World Junior Bantamweight Championship, placed fifth at the 2013 World Junior Championship, and placed in the top 16 at the 2012 and 2014 World Junior Championships.
She also won three Australian national championships and three Golden Gloves championships. She finished her amateur boxing career, having participated in over 60 amateur boxing matches.
Personal life
Cherneka Johnson is a proud Mori and Australian. She has a Mori flag tattooed on her left arm and an Australian flag on her right arm.
She also has her brother Levi’s name tattooed on her chest, who she lost in 2022 when he was stabbed to death outside a Brisbane nightclub.
She was devastated by his death and vowed to honor his memory by continuing to fight. She dedicated her recent win over Susie Ramadan to him, saying, “I dedicate this to my brother and I’m so glad I got it done – I know he’s always there for me.”
Johnson was also one of the first fighters to join OnlyFans, a platform that allows her to share exclusive content with fans and earn extra money.
She announced her partnership with OnlyFans at a weigh-in for her fight with Ellie Scotney in 2023, wearing nothing but body paint and a bikini.
She said she wanted to expand her brand and connect with her fans on a more personal level. She also said she is not ashamed of her body and wants to inspire other women to be more confident and empowered.
Career
Johnson made his professional boxing debut in 2016 against Thai boxer Napaporn Ruengsuwan, who was also making his professional debut.
Johnson won the match with a second-round stoppage. She then won two more fights, ending her 2016 with a first-round stoppage over Thailand’s Ratsadaporn Khiaosopa.
In 2017, Johnson won four more fights, including a unanimous decision over Filipino Gretel de Paz to win the WBA Oceania women’s bantamweight title. It was her first regional title and her first 10-round fight.
A few months later, she fought for the WIBA bantamweight world title against Thailand’s Rungnapha Kaewkrachang. Johnson won by fourth-round stoppage, becoming the second Mori to win a world boxing title.
In 2018, Johnson defended his WIBA title against Thailand’s Siriphon Chanbuala, winning by second-round knockout.
She then moved up to super bantamweight and fought for the vacant IBF women’s featherweight title against Mexico’s Melissa Esquivel in 2022. Johnson won by majority decision, becoming a two-weight world champion.
In 2023, Johnson fights Shannon O’Connell for the WBA Gold women’s bantamweight title, a secondary title that could give her a chance to fight for the regular or super WBA title.
The fight was a tense and fierce affair, but O’Connell won by split decision, handing Johnson his first professional loss. Johnson returned later that year, defeating Singapore’s Nurshahidah Roslie by unanimous decision.
In 2024, Johnson is scheduled to face England’s Ellie Scotney in a rematch for the WBA Gold title. Scotney is an unbeaten prospect who gave Johnson a tough fight in their first encounter, with Johnson winning by unanimous decision.
Johnson is confident she will repeat the victory and move closer to a boxing unification bout with other world champions in her weight class.
Prize
Throughout his career, Johnson has won a number of awards and honors, such as:
- WBA Oceania Women’s Bantamweight Championship (2017)
- WIBA Bantamweight World Champion (2018)
- IBF Women’s Junior Featherweight World Champion (2022-present)
- 2011 AIBA Women’s World Youth Boxing Championship Gold Medalist
- Three-time Australian National Champion
- Three-time Golden Glove Champion
Argumentative
Cherneka Johnson has been involved in a number of controversies during her career, such as:
- Her partnership with OnlyFans has drawn mixed reactions from the boxing community and the general public, with some praising her for her creativity and independence, while others have criticized her for being inappropriate and disrespectful to the sport.
- Her weigh-in outfit for her 2023 fight with Ellie Scotney consisted of nothing more than body paint and a bikini. She said she wanted to promote her OnlyFans account and make a statement, but some people found it offensive and vulgar.
- Her brother’s murder in 2022 was a tragic and shocking event that affected her deeply. She said she received a lot of support from family and friends but also some hatred and threats from strangers online.
Social media
- Instagram Name: @sugarneekz
- Twitter Username: @sugarneekz
- YouTube: Cherneka Johnson
- OnlyFans: @sugarneekz
Net worth
Cherneka Johnson’s net worth is estimated at $3 million.
She makes money from her boxing career and partnerships with OnlyFans and other sponsors.
