Cherneka Johnson is Australia’s first, and to date only, four-belt unified world boxing champion.
She’s also a glamorous Gold Coast local with a popular OnlyFans account and almost half a million followers on Instagram.
Cherneka Johnson and Shurretta Metcalf pose in front of MVP boss Jake Paul. Getty
She’s about as marketable as they come but, bizarrely, she heads into Sunday’s world title fight without a single financial sponsor.
“I’m going to plug myself here, if anyone wants to become a financial sponsor, (you are) more than welcome to reach out to my manager,” Johnson grins as she chats to nine.com.au ahead of her bout with Dina Thorslund.
The 31-year-old is, in fact, one of two Aussie world champions fighting on the Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) card in Orlando, Florida.
Desley Robinson holds the IBF and WBO middleweight belts, and can add The Ring Magazine’s title to her cabinet if she beats Tamm Thibeault.
They hold six world titles between them and are co-headlining a major card in the states. They are two of Australia’s most successful current athletes.
But the lack of a proper sponsor on Johnson’s shorts highlights the reality of the sport’s stature Down Under.
Tim Tszyu hasn’t held a world title for two years but his fight with Errol Spence Jr last month created more buzz than Sunday’s two genuine champions will this week. Same deal when Jai Opetaia defends his world title in September.
To be fair, the Tszyu hype is heavily pushed by his Aussie promoters No Limit, with a lot of help from his surname.
“Obviously credit to Tim and what he’s done, but he’s got the last name, and obviously that sells tickets. There is a lot of pressure on him to live up to that name too,” Robinson, 38, told nine.com.au from Orlando.
“But I do reckon we need a bit more exposure, a bit more recognition for what we’ve done because we’ve got undisputed and unified champions who are women.
“It’s already hard enough as women in the sport.”
Desley Robinson and Cherneka Johnson with their world title belts. Most Valuable Promotions
Johnson, who last year beat Shuretta Metcalf to win all the bantamweight belts and make Australian boxing history, agrees it’s been hard to make a splash with the public – and media – back home.
“From the media probably not so much (attention). Myself and Desley are female world champions, I don’t think we get as much recognition,” Johnson said.
“For example when Tim recently fought, my feed and my socials, everyone was talking about Tim. Not that it’s a bad thing, but I don’t think we get the recognition that we could get.”
Johnson was eager to point out she has several businesses who help her out with services and products, ensuring she’s “not out of pocket”.
She is also earning considerably more from her fights these days than she was prior to signing with MVP, the promotional company headed by Jake Paul and his business partner Nakisa Bidarian.
While her OnlyFans content would have once generated more income, Johnson says her earnings from boxing finally outweigh it.
Last year she revealed her goal to fight for a seven-figure purse. While Sunday’s fight is “not there yet”, Johnson reckons it isn’t far away.
Cherneka Johnson celebrates becoming undisputed world champion. Getty
“I still have high hopes that (if) the right fights happen, the right location, the right match-up, I do believe that is something that’s possible. You’ve got to dream high, so I’m still doing that,” she said.
“I guess if I fight once a year, you can’t really survive. Now I’m with MVP I’m able to (fight more often).
“I think everyone knows what I’m capable of. I think this fight will really solidify the champion status, and what I bring to the fighting world.
“The sponsorships is a hard one. Cost of living these days is crazy expensive.”
The financial reality hits home harder for someone like Robinson, who is a single mother of three kids. The MVP business model means more money is finding its way to the fighters, and specifically women boxers.
MVP boss Bidarian told nine.com.au he plans to bring a fight card to Australia at some stage, which could feature Paul himself competing.
If it happens, Johnson and Robinson are keen to be involved, as will fellow Aussie fighters Ebanie Bridges and Skye Nicolson, who are both MVP stablemates.
Ebanie Bridges weighs in for a fight. nna\sbrunsdon
“A lot more people have been seeing what we’re doing, and that has been the question everyone keeps asking – when are you guys coming to Australia (to fight),” Robinson said.
“Obviously we started in Australia then we’ve come over here. But I think it will sell out when it comes to Australia, it will be huge.
“I did amateurs with Cherneka, so growing up, seeing each other fight in the amateurs, you kind of think that’s it. Now we’re on the world stage and world champions. We’ve both seen each other’s journeys, we have fought in amateurs on the same cards.
“It’s unreal, I think it’s really good. Australian boxing doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, and especially having two women who have really pushed and busted our butts to get there, it’s good for Australia to see that.”
Johnson says she will make the case for Gold Coast to host the inaugural MVP card Down Under.
Sunday’s card will be broadcast on Fox Sports in Australia.