- Ring announcer named Nina Hughes as winner of title bout
- Boxers were called back and Cherneka Johnson was awarded fight
- Hughes was appalled by the bungled announcement afterwards
A bungled scorecard announcement has caused outrage following Cherneka Johnson’s title fight with Nina Hughes, with the wrong winner being named initially.
The pair fought a brilliant ten rounds for the WBA bantamweight world title in Perth, Western Australia, but the fight was forced to the judges’ scorecards after neither could find a stoppage.
Ring announcer Dan Hennessey awarded the win to Hughes by majority decision, 95-95, 96-94, 98-92.
But, while she was celebrating, both boxers were called back to the middle and told it was actually Johnson who had won, not Hughes.
Cherneka Johnson was awarded the decision victory after being told she had lost
‘I just don’t get it,’ Hughes said.
‘How can they announce I had won and then change the scores? I thought I’d dominated early. I thought she won a few of the later rounds but I felt like I won it comfortably.
‘I don’t get how you can announce the winner and then change the scores.
‘This is a joke. I feel like I’ve been robbed big time. There’s got to be a rematch. I didn’t lose that fight.’
‘I thought I dominated it.’
Johnson was relieved that the correct decision was finally read out.
‘I’m not the judge and I’m just glad that they figured out the wrong decision,’ Johnson said.
‘Nina was a tough fight … I’m not the judges but I definitely think I won that fight. I’m just over the moon I won this bout.’
Nina Hughes was furious about the botched scorecard, saying she felt like she’d been robbed
Johnson was relieved and glad that the correct decision was finally read out
Promotor Lou DiBella stepped in afterwards to apologise for the mix-up, saying they ‘screwed up’.
Boxing fans had a field day with the debacle on social media.
‘Sackable offense for an announcer,’ wrote one fan on X.
‘That was shocking to see, I feel bad for both fighters,’ replied another.
