Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson made global headlines as a “Māori warrior” after being crowned the undisputed world bantamweight boxing champion at New York’s prestigious Madison Square Garden.
“It was surreal,” she reflects of her win in July. “I thought, ‘Is this real?’ I still pinch myself that I overcame so many hurdles to get to that point.”
And last month, Cherneka successfully defended her title against Canadian fighter Amanda Galle ahead of the much-hyped Jake Paul and Anthony Johnson match. Yet it’s the challenges the 30-year-old athlete has faced outside of the ring that reveals her true warrior spirit.
While living with her grandparents in Tauranga, her early years were clouded by witnessing domestic violence, until her parents, Kelly and Melody Johnson, brought her home at age four. From that point on, the self-described tomboy enjoyed a happier childhood – walking to school barefoot in Otūmoetai, horse-riding at the Wairoa River, hanging at Matakana Island and scoffing her late nan’s
fried bread.
While initially Cherneka imagined joining the police or air force, when she moved to the Gold Coast with her family at age 12, a life-changing boxfit class changed her course.
Becoming known as “the girl who boxes” at school, eventually she became an Aussie citizen, which gave her the chance to represent Australia and access sports funding.
Turning pro at 21
Cherneka worked hard through her teens, missing school camps and formals while competing in 70+ fights and four Women’s World Championships. After failing to make the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, she left the amateur scene and turned pro at 21.
“That’s when I was like, ‘I could make a career out of this. I just have to get good enough to make a decent income!’ I got on a winning streak and it felt so rewarding, given how long I’d focused on getting good at boxing.”
Fighting through tragedy
In 2022, Cherneka’s commitment was put to the ultimate test. Six weeks after learning her younger brother Levi had been murdered, she defended her bantamweight title against Aussie boxer Susie Ramadan, receiving a nasty gash to her head.
“My medic said he could see my skull but didn’t tell me because I’d panic,” she recalls.
“There was blood in my eye, so I couldn’t see. But it was also the first time I’d fought on TV and it felt like my moment, plus the fight was for my brother, so I thought, ‘I’m not giving this away.’”
Since then, Cherneka has continued to shine, recently signing with Jake Paul’s boxing promotion company Most Valuable Promotions.
Breaking barriers in women’s boxing
Cherneka laughs, “I was like, ‘This guy’s actually calling me? For real?!’ I love that he’s paving a way to make women’s boxing equal to men’s by creating opportunities like fighting on Netflix and
bigger paydays.”
Her recent championship success means Cherneka is the first Māori boxer to win all four major boxing belts in the same division. Of Ngāti Ranginui descent, her whakapapa constantly guides her.
“Us Māori people, we’re warriors,” she muses.
“If I ever doubt myself, I think, ‘My ancestors are fighters and true warriors, and that’s what I am’. I always bring myself back to my culture and love of representing Māori people.”
Love and support outside the ring
While Cherneka’s frank that navigating life as a female boxer can be challenging, she credits her boyfriend Jacob Grant for being her rock. Together for five years, the pair met after the Christchurch local attended one of her matches. While they’re happy treating their two dogs “like babies” right now, eventually they’d love to start a family.
“Ladies are still boxing at 40 these days, so I could make a comeback after,” Cherneka tells.
“But I’ve been in the sport so long that once I have kids, I want to be fully present as a mum.”
But for now, she’s continuing to concentrate on remaining a champion and making her family proud.
Family is behind every punch
Cherneka smiles, “When I fight on TV, my mum’s yelling, ‘That’s my daughter!’ I wouldn’t be in this position without them having driven me 40 minutes to training five times a week or finding the money when I needed to travel.”
As for Levi, she knows he’s forever in her corner.
“When I was younger, I was scared of the dark, so I’d cuddle up to my brother,” she recalls.
A brother’s pride
“But he was on a completely different journey. He went down the path of drugs, alcohol and gangs, and I distanced myself. “I was on my own journey and didn’t want that to pull me down. But he was always proud of me. He’d be in jail watching me fight on TV, telling his mates, ‘That’s my sister!’”
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, call Shine on 0508 744 633 or Women’s Refuge on 0800 733 843.
