- The ring announcer named Nina Hughes as the winner of the title match
- The boxers were called back and Cherneka Johnson received the fight
- Hughes was dismayed by the subsequent botched announcement.
A botched scorecard announcement has caused outrage following Cherneka Johnson’s title fight with Nina Hughes, with the wrong winner initially named.
The pair fought ten brilliant rounds for the WBA world bantamweight title in Perth, Western Australia, but the fight was forced to the judges’ scorecards after neither man could find a stoppage.
Ring announcer Dan Hennessey awarded Hughes the victory by majority decision, 95-95, 96-94, 98-92.
But, while she was celebrating, both boxers were called downtown and told that it was actually Johnson who had won, not Hughes.
Cherneka Johnson earned the decision victory after being told she lost.
“I just don’t understand it,” Hughes said.
‘How can they announce that he had won and then change the scores? I thought I had dominated early. I thought he won some of the later rounds, but I felt like I won them handily.
‘I don’t understand 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 has to be a revenge. I didn’t lose that fight.’
“I thought I had it down.”
Johnson was relieved that the correct decision was finally read.
“I’m not the judge and I’m just glad they made the wrong decision,” Johnson said.
‘Nina was a tough fight… I’m not the judge, but I definitely think I won that fight. I’m delighted to have won this fight.’
Nina Hughes was furious at the botched scorecard and said she felt like she had been robbed.
Johnson was relieved and glad that the correct decision was finally read.
Promoter Lou DiBella later intervened to apologize for the mix-up, saying they “fucked up.”
Boxing fans were amused by the debacle on social media.
“A crime worthy of dismissal for a broadcaster,” wrote one fan on X.
“It was shocking to see, I feel bad for both fighters,” another responded.