Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson, born on March 3, 1995, and fights in the Bantamweight / Super Bantamweight division and as of August 11, 2026, her boxing record is 19-3-0 (8KO).
Johnson is a history-making professional boxer representing Australia on the global stage. Celebrated for her technical skill, toughness, and high-energy personality, she made history as the first Australian or New Zealander in the four-belt era to achieve undisputed world championship status.
Born in Tauranga, New Zealand, Johnson spent her earliest years in a tight-knit Māori family. At age 11, her family relocated to the Gold Coast of Australia. In 2008, a local Boxfit class sparked her passion for combat sports. She joined the Albert Boxing Club, training under Allan Nicolson Jr alongside future world champion Skye Nicolson. As a dedicated amateur, she compiled an impressive record of over 70 fights. She secured multiple Australian National Titles and represented Australia in four different Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Johnson spent the first seven years of her professional campaign competing consistently between 120.8 and 122 pounds. Her physical framework allowed her to maximize power in this division, capturing the IBF World Female Super Bantamweight title against Melissa Esquivel in 2022 while weighing 121.5 lbs. Her physical toughness at this weight class was epitomized in her blood-soaked defense against Susie Ramadan.
The Bantamweight Shift to Undisputed Glory (118 lbs max)
In 2025, Johnson and her training staff made the strategic decision to trim down to the 118-pound bantamweight limit. Operating strictly at 117.0 to 117.4 lbs, Johnson retained her speed while introducing unmatched volume to the lower weight tier.
This physical adaptation directly fueled her legendary July 11, 2025 victory over Shurretta Metcalf at Madison Square Garden, where she registered exactly 117.0 lbs on the scales before knocking Metcalf out in the 9th frame to become the unified, undisputed queen of the division.
Though she later surrendered these titles to undefeated lineage holder Dina Thorslund on August 8, 2026, her mastery across both weight chapters remains a cornerstone of Oceanian boxing history. WBAN wrote: (AUG 9, 2026) Last night at the Caribe Royale Resort, in Orlando Florida, Most Valuable Promotions delivered a great night for women’s boxing with MVPW-05, capturing multiple world championships and showcasing top global talent.
