Tauranga’s WBA world bantamweight champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson (Ngāti Ranginui) is set to defend her world boxing title in a rematch against Nina Hughes in Sydney on March 22.

Johnson will be on the main card of the Australian mega-show, which is co-promoted by one of America’s biggest promoters, Lou DiBella (DiBella Entertainment), and one of England’s biggest promoters, Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing).

The card is one of the biggest in Australian boxing history, showcasing Johnson, WBC featherweight champion Skye Nicolson and former unified world champion George Kambosos jnr, said New Zealand boxing commentator Benjamin Watt.

“This fight will make history as Johnson will become the first Māori boxer to have fought in five world title fights in a row, spanning almost three years of consecutive world title fights,” Watt said.

“This achievement is rare as not even some of the New Zealand greats have reached this achievement, including former WBO world champion Joseph Parker, two-division IBF world champion Lani Daniels, retired WBO world champion Geovana Peres or the first-ever female IBF world champion and now Hall of Famer, Daniella Smith.”

Watt said the first fight ended in controversy back in May 2024 with New Zealand/American MC Dan Hennessey announcing the wrong winner, before correcting his mistake and announcing the rightful winner.

“The backlash almost ended Dan Hennessey’s career before boxer Joseph Parker and Sam Rapira convinced him out of it,” Watt said.

“Controversy continued as both camps claimed that their boxer was the rightful winner, with promoter Lou DiBella himself believing Johnson had lost the fight. DiBella demanded an immediate rematch, which was happening 10 months after the initial fight.

“The controversy overshadowed many milestone moments for Johnson, not only for her to win her second world title, but also for becoming the first-ever New Zealander to win two major world titles in her career by two different sanctioning bodies, the first being the IBF world super bantamweight title in 2022 and currently the WBA world bantamweight title in 2024.

“This does not include the minor world title, the WIBA world bantamweight title that she won in 2018, which most female boxers aim for as a stepping stone in their career.”

Watt said Johnson has recently been active in training, sparring with Mea Motu to assist in preparation for Motu’s world title fight back in January.

Motu, after losing that title fight, will be moving up two weight divisions to super featherweight.