Australia’s boxing queen Cherneka Johnson has been given the opportunity to emulate Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu – and on the undercard of Jake Paul’s upcoming headliner against US superstar Gervonta ‘Tank Davis.
Only three months on from becoming the nation’s first undisputed champion of the four-belt era, Johnson has confirmed she will defend all four bantamweight straps in a November 15 showcase against Canada’s unbeaten Amanda Galle.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, the Gold Coast star also revealed, in victory, she has already been promised a 2026 blockbuster against Danish star Dina Thorslund.
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And the fighter dubbed Sugar Neekz is confident of punching her way into said title blockbuster against Galle, a rival who she stresses “doesn’t have any power whatsoever”.
Earlier this year, Thorslund vacated both the WBO and WBC straps after falling pregnant, only to then tragically suffer a miscarriage.
And with the former champ now aiming for a return to the ring early next year, Johnson knows a massive showdown against the Dane – who remains sixth on The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings – will only help aid her push to earn a $1 million purse from her new promoter, MVP.
Cherneka Johnson (black trunks) celebrates her TKO win over Shurretta Metcalf (blue trunks) during their undisputed bantamweight world championship bout at Madison Square Garden on July 11, 2025 in New York City. Ed Mulholland/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ed Mulholland / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
Incredibly, this latest showdown also doubles as the second in only four months since the 30-year-old signed on with Paul’s promotional company, MVP.
“And now I’m fighting on the same night as Jake Paul versus Tank Davis,” Johnson said. “This is a massive card and there will be so many eyeballs on my fight.
“The guys from MVP have removed so much stress from my life.
“There is no waiting around for fights now, or being unsure about what is going to happen.
“I’m being valued as a fighter.”
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia back in August, and shortly after claiming all four straps, the fighter dubbed ‘Sugar Neekz’ welcomed potential world title blockbusters against the likes of Thorslund, Gabriela Fundora, even Australia’s previous boxing queen – Ebanie Bridges – as she pushes to earn a $1 million payday.
Apart from becoming the first Australian fighter to go undisputed since Kostya Tszyu, Johnson now wants to make history again – by defending on the Netflix headliner.
“Because I feel like I still have so much to prove,” she stressed.
“Right now, I still haven’t shown the best of myself as a fighter.
“Yes, I see myself as being up there with the best fighters in Australia.
“And I’ve proved that. I’ve gone and taken all the belts — become undisputed.
“But I still have much more to do. And I don’t want all this to be a one-off thing, either.
“I don’t want to hear people saying ‘oh, she won all the titles once, but that was it’.
“I want to create a title reign now … I want to create a legacy.”
Cherneka Johnson celebrates defeating Shurretta Metcalf in their IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO, and Ring bantamweight title bout during Netflix’s Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 at Madison Square Garden on July 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix)Source: Getty Images
Asked how her next six months could look, Johnson continued: “I’m not wanting to look too far ahead but I do know they [MVP] want the Dina Thorslund fight.
“Unfortunately, she’s had some stuff happen and now she’s looking to come back.
“She wants her belts back and that’s a massive fight for women’s boxing.
“I don’t know when it will be, but I know that would be the next match up for me.
“And that’s an incredibly competitive fight.
“But while she is getting older now, I’m only just coming into my prime.
“We have similar styles and that’s going to create a really exciting fight.”
Asked about her upcoming rival however, and Johnson stresses she will be ready to win big in her third title fight of the year — having won all four straps against Shurretta Metcalf in July, and WBA gold in her March rematch with Nina Hughes.
Galle last fought, and won, last month, winning a lopsided decision against Mexico’s Alondra Mendoza.
Yet while the Canadian’s only career blemish is a 2022 draw, the Aussie insisted she would be too strong for the 36-year-old.
“I watched Amanda’s last fight and she throws lots of punches and creates really good angles,” Johnson started. “But she doesn’t have any power whatsoever.
“Which isn’t to say I’m underestimating her.
“And I know she will be a tough challenge.
“But I’m also extremely confident of winning this fight.
“I’m an all-round fighter who can box, fight on the inside, whatever.
“And with her not having any power, I’ll be able to walk through her punches.
“So whatever she brings on fight night, we’ll counter it.”
In a statement released via MVP however, Galle stressed she was ready to upset Australia’s Baddest Woman.
“I’ve put my time in,” said the challenger, who is also promoted by MVP.
“I’ve been hanging out in the coattails of these big names, working in silence, and I’ve earned a spot at the table.
“The best promotion in the world has put me on their roster and I want a shot at the best out there.
“I’m the undisputed bantamweight champion.
“Canada knows it, now the world’s about to.”
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Already, 30-year-old Johnson has talked up a huge range of lucrative fight opportunities – with potential rivals including Thorslund, Fundora, even fellow Australians Bridges and Skye Nicolson.
Dubbed the Blonde Bomber, 38-year-old Bridges was a former champion in the division and has also signed with MVP.
After recently giving birth to her first child, the former Sydney school teacher is now readying for a return to the ring for the first time since 2023 – when she lost the IBF bantamweight strap.
Apart from sharing a promoter, Bridges and Johnson also both enjoy strong followings on social media and Only Fans.
Back in 2022, Bridges’ all-Australian showdown with Shannon O’Connell was the year’s second most read story on the Fox Sports Australia website, while Johnson has also made headlines for everything from bloody wars to wearing body paint at her world title weigh-in against Ellie Scotney.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Jake Paul.Source: Getty Images
So as for the two Aussie female stars now throwing down?
“Oh, that would be a huge fight,” Johnson told us in August.
“We’re both aggressive, come forward fighters, and our styles would make for a really entertaining bout.
“Right now, Ebanie is coming back from having a baby, so I don’t know if she will go straight to bantamweight or maybe have a comeback fight at a heavier weight first.
“But that would be an entertaining fight and (with both) now signed with MVP, it’s all incredibly exciting.
“You only have to look at what’s happening with fighters like Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano to see what’s possible.
“Women now know they can make upwards of $1 million if they’re fighting the right fights.
“At first you’re thinking to yourself ‘can this be real?’
“But it is real.
“Katie and Amanda have proved that.
“They’ve done it.
“And when you look at where I’m at, the fights I can have … it’s exciting.”