In a highly anticipated rematch, Cherneka Johnson delivered a commanding performance to defeat Nina Hughes and retain her WBA bantamweight title. The bout, held in Sydney, ended in the seventh round when Hughes' corner threw in the towel at just 46 seconds.

Johnson, 30, showcased her superior strength and agility, dominating the fight and improving her professional record to 17-2. Hughes, 42, struggled to keep up, suffering a cut to her nose in the third round and a point deduction for holding in the fifth. This loss marks Hughes' second defeat in eight fights, potentially signaling the end of her illustrious career.

Promoter Eddie Hearn commented, "[Johnson] was just too strong, too young, too fresh. She was a real handful. It was scrappy at times but she just outmuscled [Hughes] and outworked her." Hughes, who began her professional career in her late 30s, has had a remarkable journey, including two significant fights in Australia.

In another upset, Australia's Skye Nicolson lost her WBC featherweight title to American challenger Tiara Brown. Brown, 36, maintained her unbeaten record with a split-decision win over the 29-year-old Nicolson. The judges scored the fight 96-94, 96-94, and 97-93 in favor of Brown, improving her record to 19-0 while Nicolson's record now stands at 12-1.

Key Takeaways:

• Cherneka Johnson defends her WBA bantamweight title with a stoppage victory.
• Nina Hughes faces challenges and a potential career crossroads.
• Tiara Brown upsets Skye Nicolson to claim the WBC featherweight title.