Ellie Scotney vs. Cherneka Johnson – June 10, 2023
When Ellie Scotney challenged Cherneka Johnson for the IBF super bantamweight championship on June 10, 2023, at Wembley Arena in London, she entered the ring with a professional record of 6-0. Seven fights into a professional career is usually when a boxer is still learning her trade, but Scotney had other ideas.
A decorated amateur, the Londoner had been identified as a special talent long before she turned professional. Across the ring stood a fighter who knew something about defying expectations herself.
Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson entered Wembley with a record of 15-1 and ownership of the IBF title. Johnson was born in New Zealand and fought out of Australia, steadily building a reputation as one of the division’s most reliable professionals. In 2022, Johnson captured the vacant IBF belt with a victory over Susie Ramadan.
The matchup carried an interesting contrast. Scotney was the polished prospect moving forward at a rapid pace. Johnson was the proven champion whose experience appeared, on paper at least, to be a significant advantage.
What unfolded that evening was a demonstration of maturity. Scotney boxed with the composure of a veteran, controlling range, dictating tempo, and repeatedly forcing Johnson to reset. Johnson remained competitive throughout, using her skill, experience, and determination to make Scotney earn every round. But as the fight progressed, it became increasingly clear that Scotney’s timing, accuracy, and ring management were carrying the day.
After ten rounds, the judges returned scores of 98-92 98-92 (2x) and 97-93, all for Scotney. The unanimous decision made her the new IBF super bantamweight champion and improved her record to 7-0. Johnson fell to 15-2.
The victory was significant for reasons that extended beyond the belt itself. Within a year, Scotney added additional championships and established herself as one of the premier fighters in the division. Her record stands at 12-0 and she is the IBF, WBO, and WBC world super bantamweight title holder. Johnson later returned to world championship prominence (currently holding the IBF, WBO, and WBC world bantamweight titles) and reestablished herself among the sport’s elite with a professional record of 19-2 with 8 KOs.
