Nina Hughes Defends Her WBA Bantamweight Title In May Against Cherneka Johnson In Australia

Nina Hughes Defends Her WBA Bantamweight Title In May Against Cherneka Johnson In Australia

Nina Hughes will finally get to defend her WBA bantamweight title in May when she defends her title against title against the Australian Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson in Perth on a show headlined by the vacant IBF lightweight world title showdown between Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr.

“I am looking forward to showing the world why I am the WBA bantamweight world champion, and I’m thrilled to be fighting on such a prestigious event in Perth, Western Australia,” Hughes said in a press release to announce her return to the ring after a frustrating period in her career that has seen her sidelined since she defended her title last June against Katie Healy in London.

Hughes could and should have defended her WBA bauble much sooner, and more often, but with her previous promoter seemingly only interested in matching her up with Shannon Courtenay, the former amateur star ended 2023 with only one fight to her name. Hughes chased a big unification fight with the then IBF champion Ebanie Bridges, but when that came to nothing, Hughes was left sitting on the sidelines for much of last year.

“It can get to the point where you think why am I doing this, but at the same time, I am so determined not to let anything beat me. I am an incredibly determined person. That’s how I won the world title in the first place, so I won’t give up now and let the business side of things defeat me.” Hughes told FightPost in January.

But when Hughes left Matchroom towards the end of last year, Hughes signed with Lou DiBella hoping for a change in fortune, and the new partnership has already proved rewarding for a fighter who at 39, can’t afford any further periods of isolation.

The fight against Cherneka Johnson, Hughes, will hope is the start of something more. The reigning WBA champion needs regular activity at this stage of her career.

The Nina Hughes story of late is a side of boxing that many don’t see. Hughes won a world title against all the odds, and her career promised plenty. But it didn’t quite happen the way she had imagined. But 2024 promises more.