CHERNEKA Johnson defended her world title despite suffering a horror gash to her forehead.
The Kiw-born brawler, 27, came up against five-time former world champion Australian Susie Ramadan, 43, in a tooth-and-nail fight at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Saturday.
The second round saw Ramadan threaten an upset after a clash of heads left an open wound above Cherneka’s right eye with some viewers insisting the fight be stopped.
Others praised Cherneka’s medics for being able to stem the flow of blood between rounds, allowing the champion to return to the ring.
She said: “I freaked out a bit in the first round with the cut and felt the blood in my eye but I just tried to stay calm.
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“I knew I could get through it if I stayed on my jab and didn’t get stuck in a brawl.”
Despite a constant stream of blood down her face and body, the champion was able to knock down her opponent showing no signs of injury.
The scores were 97-90, 96-92, 96-91, all for Johnson, meaning she was able to retain her IBF super bantamweight title via a unanimous points decision.
The win was dedicated to her brother Levi who was tragically stabbed to death last month.
Cherneka said: “I’m dedicating this to my brother and I’m so glad I got the job done – I know he’s here in my corner.”
Ramadan was visibly upset about the judge’s decision and the fight referee.
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She said in the ring post-fight: “It seemed like a set-up to be honest.”
Johnson made her professional boxing debut at 2016 and was beaten for the first and only time in 2021.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
