Britain’s Nina Hughes felt she had been “robbed” after being incorrectly announced as the winner in her WBA bantamweight title fight against Cherneka Johnson.
The match in Perth, Australia concluded amidst farcical scenes as the ring announcer first called Hughes as the victor by a majority decision of the judges, before awarding the victory to her opponent.
Johnson was awarded the fight after with scores of 98-92, 96-94 with the final judge scoring it a draw.
Cherneka Johnson beats Nina Hughes by MD. Congratulations 🔥🥊 #AndTheNew WBA Bantamweight Champion 🥊🔥 #Boxing #Boxeo #WBA #WBABoxing pic.twitter.com/IZuqQ1kFWl
— WBA Boxing (@WBABoxing) May 12, 2024
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After a close first eight rounds, Johnson moved into the ascendancy in the final two to take charge of the match and hand Hughes the first loss of her seven-fight professional career.
“It’s a joke,” said Hughes, as reported by BBC Sport. “I feel like I’ve been robbed big time.
“There’s got to be a rematch. I didn’t lose that fight.
“How can they announce I had won and then change the scores?
"He made an EPIC mistake!" 🤯
Nina Hughes was announced as the winner against Cherneka Johnson, only for Johnson to be named the new WBA women's bantamweight champion instead moments later! pic.twitter.com/mVSK0MDF60Advertisement— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 12, 2024
“I thought I’d dominated early. I thought she won a few of the later rounds but I felt like I won it comfortably.”
Johnson, who is a former super bantamweight title holder, said: “I’m not the judge and I’m just glad that they figured out the wrong decision. Nina was a tough fight but I definitely think I won.”
In the main event, Ukrainian Vasiliy Lomachenko won both the IBO and vacant IBF lightweight titles by defeating Australia’s George Kambosos Jr in the 11th round.
