New Zealand Born Boxer Goes For World Title

Tauranga, New Zealand born Australian boxer Cherneka Johnson (13 - 1 - 0) will be going for the vacant IBF World Super Bantamweight title on the 20th of April against Mexican boxer Melissa Esquivel (12 - 2 - 1) at the Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia.

Cherneka Johnson had a big amateur boxing background before making her professional boxing debut back in 2016. Since then she kept herself very busy throughout her career.

She won her first professional title in December 2017 where she defeated Filipino boxer Gretel de Paz for the vacant WBA Oceania bantamweight title. A few months later she defeated Thailand boxer Rungnapha Kaewkrachang by stoppage to win the vacant WIBA World Bantamweight title. From there Johnson started climbing the major boxing rankings, peaking at 2nd in the IBF and 6th in the WBA.

She went on to defeat boxers with positive records including Siriphon Chanbuala (12 - 5 - 2), Kirti (6 - 1 - 0), Arasa Nimnoi (4 - 3 - 0) and former Thai national champion and interim WBC Opbf champion Nurshahidah Roslie (14 - 3 - 0).

The last time we saw Johnson in the ring was on the undercard of Michael Zerafa vs Anthony Mundine in March 2021 where she took on Shannon O'Connell for the WBA Gold Bantamweight title. The close fight went the full 10 rounds with O’Connell winning by Split Decision, giving Johnson her first defeat.

If you don’t include the WBA Gold title, this is Cherneka Johnson’s first full world title opportunity.

She will be going up against Mexican boxer Melissa Esquivel. Esquivel made her professional boxing debut in 2017. She kept a nine-fight undefeated record until she drew against Marisol Corona in 2019 and later in the year lost against Paulette Valenzuela by split decision.

Esquivel won her first professional boxing title in 2021 when she won the WBC FECARBOX female super bantamweight title against Marisol Corona in their rematch. The last time we saw her in the ring was in November 2021 when she lost against Erika Cruz Hernandez in Erika WBA World Bantamweight title defence.

Both boxers are coming off different variations of world title fights. Both boxers are stepping up in weight to fight for a chance to become World champion. Cherneka Johnson will have the hometown advantage as the fight will be held in Australia.

The fight will be the Co-Main Event of the evening alongside the IBF Middleweight eliminator Michael Zerafa vs Issac Hardman.

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