Nina Hughes Loses Her World Title To Cherneka Johnson

Nina Hughes Loses Her World Title To Cherneka Johnson

A near year-long absence from the ring ended in confusion, frustration, and ultimately defeat for Nina Hughes in Perth on Saturday night.

Hughes lost her WBA bantamweight title in highly controversial circumstances in Australia to Cherneka Johnson by a majority decision. Johnson got the benefit of the doubt with scores of 95-95, 96-94, and a far too wide 98-92, which bore little or no resemblance to reality in this observer’s opinion. I had it to Hughes by 96-94. Although the punch stats showed Johnson out-landing her opponent 164-127 in total punches. Stats which were a little surprising on reading.

The British fighter was initially announced as the winner by the ring announcer Dan Hennessey, but just a few seconds later with Hughes already in full celebration mode was pulled back to the centre of the ring and the initial decision was reversed to a win to the Australian leaving a frustrated and confused Hughes suddenly an ex-champion and her opponent now a two-weight world champion.

I thought Hughes started the better, and after eight rounds, I had her in a seemingly unassailable lead. The faster start of Hughes seemed to overwhelm Johnson at times. But the challenger still did some good work, especially with her jab. But Hughes looked to be outworking her.

The 41-year-old seemed to seal her victory in the seventh and eighth rounds. But Johnson, sensing she needed a strong finish to once again call herself a world champion, came roaring back to win the 9th round. It was by far her best two minutes of the fight. Hughes, either feeling the effects of a tough fight or thinking she had already done enough to retain her title, was outworked in the final round.  

“It’s a joke. I feel like I’ve been robbed big time,” Hughes said a few minutes after being declared a loser in a fight that she thought she had won comfortably. Hughes hasn’t enjoyed the best of times in the past year. With no fight since she beat Katie Healy in London last June, she hoped the fight with Johnson would be a new beginning for her. Hughes will now chase a second fight with Johnson after a night that has again left her thinking there is no justice in a sport that hasn’t always been kind to her. 

Hughes does have a rematch clause, but Johnson now inherits a mandatory obligation, which may now take priority over an immediate rematch with Hughes. The Hughes inner circle has already lodged an appeal with the WBA.

But the woes of Hughes differ from the euphoria of the new champion. The defeat to Ellie Scotney last year which cost Johnson her IBF super-bantamweight title is now firmly in the rearview mirror. Rematch or not, Cherneka Johnson could now have some very big nights ahead of her.

Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank