Cherneka Johnson’s expression of befuddlement said it all.
Was she hearing this correctly, as ring announcer Lt. Dan Hennessey read aloud at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, that WBA bantamweight titleholder Nina Hughes had retained her belt despite Johnson outlanding Hughes 164-127 in total punches?
Seconds later, Johnson’s worries were put to rest as the confused Hennessey corrected himself and revealed that Johnson (16-2) was now a two-division champion by virtue of the 95-95, 96-94, 98-92 majority decision favoring her.
Relief rushed over Johnson, and heartbreak came upon Hughes (6-1) as ESPN’s Joe Tessitore called the ring announcer’s botched call a “clown show,” “garbage” and “amateur hour.”
Indeed, Johnson, moving down from a junior featherweight title loss, won thanks to her power-punching advantage down the stretch, which left Hughes’ face a black-and-blue, swollen wreck by the final bell.
Johnson’s size advantage was noticeable from the start, as the 29-year-old Australian sought to rely on her jab and power to keep Hughes away.
Hughes surged in the third, banking on her activity during the two-minute rounds to minimize the scoring effect of Johnson’s heavier blows.
Hughes, an ever-punching Brit who toiled for 15 years as an amateur fighter before turning pro three years ago, became champion two years ago with a victory in Dubai.
In the fourth, Hughes creatively threw a flurry of blows, held Johnson’s head and unleashed short punches to the face.
But Johnson answered by backing Hughes to the ropes with a power right while Hughes’ response of faster hands was met by discouraging shots that left her bruised under the right eye.
Hughes’ persistent attack bloodied Johnson’s nose in the seventh, raising the stakes as the fighters headed to the championship rounds.
Johnson landed a hard right in the eighth, only to see Hughes shrug it off and send a combination that re-started her nosebleed.
In the ninth, Johnson set out to match Hughes’ activity and she landed two head-turning rights in the first minute that diminished Hughes.
Johnson’s power punching dictated the 10th, as well.
Johnson moved down to bantamweight after standing as IBF junior featherweight champion for two bouts before losing her belt to Ellie Scotney by unanimous decision in June.
She briefly thought she had tasted defeat again Sunday morning, only to bask in the triumph of the announcer correcting (and humiliating) himself.
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