Two-division champion Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson (17-2, 7 KOs) has signed a new multi-fight promotional agreement with DiBella Entertainment, extending the partnership. The signing comes on the heels of Johnson’s  knockout victory in a rematch against Nina Hughes on March 22nd in Sydney, in her first defense of her WBA bantamweight championship. The 30 year-old Melbourne-based fighter, originally from Tauranga, New Zealand, has become a rising force in women’s boxing. A decorated amateur, Johnson represented Australia in international competition, capturing three National titles, three Golden Gloves championships, and international gold before turning professional.
 
As a pro, Johnson climbed the ranks the hard way, capturing her first world title in April 2022, when she defeated Melissa Esquivel for the IBF super bantamweight championship. Although she lost the belt in a brutal, closely-contested war against Ellie Scotney, Johnson bounced back by moving down in weight and conquering a second division, defeating Nina Hughes in May 2024.
 
Now, with DiBella Entertainment continuing to guide her career, Johnson is poised to cement her legacy as one of the best and brightest stars in the sport. "I am very happy to secure a convincing win to retain my title," said Johnson. "Along with my team, I look forward to being a part of the biggest fights available, whether in Australia or the USA."
 
"There are few champions in boxing who continue to improve their craft and build their star power simultaneously," said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. "Cherneka Johnson is one of the emerging faces of women’s boxing worldwide and DiBella Entertainment is proud to continue to serve as her promoter."
 
With the ink now dry on her multi-fight deal, Johnson’s focus shifts to her next challenge—taking on the biggest fights available and becoming the undisputed women’s bantamweight champion.

 

On March 7th, the IBF ordered its female lightweight champion Beatriz Ferreira of Brazil to begin negotiations for her mandatory defense against Maria Ines Ferreyra of Argentina. On Thursday, the IBF scheduled a purse bid for Tuesday, April 22nd, but then quickly recalled the notice and advised Boxingtalk that the women had reached an agreement to fight. The champion is 6-0, having won the vacant title against Yanina del Carmen Lescano in April and then defended it against Licia Boudersa in December. The contender is 11-0-1 with three quality victories on her resume and several fights against women wqith losing records. Details about the date or location of Ferreira vs. Ferreyra were not immediately avaialble.

 

Christy Martin Promotions has announced the signing of undefeated junior middleweight Devin Parrish to a promotional contract. A native of Chicago, Parrish (5-0, 5 KOs) started boxing at age 15 and had over 60 amateur fights, competing nationally and internationally and winning several regional championships, including the Chicago Golden Gloves. Parrish will make his next ring appearance at Christy Martin’s “The Boxing Match to Raise Awareness for Domestic Violence” on May 17th at The Reserve in Nashville. His opponent will be announced soon. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets can be bought online only at ChristyMartin-Promotions.com. A pressure fighter who fires strong left hooks to the head and liver, the 25 year-old Parrish was ranked as high as fifth in the nation before turning professional in June 2023 under the tutelage of prominent Windy City trainer George Hernandez at the Garfield Park Boxing Gym.

“The goal was always to turn pro,” explained Parrish. “I go to the body a lot and gain momentum as the fight goes on. That’s why I had so many good third rounds in the amateurs. I wear my opponents down with power, mixed with volume and pressure.”

Parrish says he considers the deal with Christy Martin a blessing for his career aspirations, as finding fights on his own was proving challenging and the ones he was able to find weren’t against competitive opponents. “George (Hernandez) knew Christy and contacted her to try and get me a fight. We fought on her cards twice and it was so much more professional than we were used to. She asked me to sign with her and I was excited. I feel like a real pro now with security and structure. I have a fight date coming up with time to plan and train and I know there will be other fights after that. It feels much more real now, like I’m on a true path. I know she’ll move me correctly.”

Parrish says with Martin on his side handling promotions and the local legend Hernandez in his corner, he finally has the team in place to reach his dream of a world championship. “George is a great coach. I trust his advice and he’s really helped develop me as a person. I know overall he has my best interests in mind. There’s no person in Chicago I’d rather be working with.”

“I cannot wait to be a part of Devin’s rise to the top of boxing,” said Martin. “He’s a throwback type of fighter who never stops coming forward. He will wear down a lot of fighters with his educated pressure and consistent body attack. I’m very happy to be working with Devin. He’s a nice guy from a great family with tremendous potential to become a world champ.”


 

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Netflix announced that reigning world super featherweight champion Alycia “The Bomb” Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) will face WBA interim title holder Jennifer Miranda (12-0, 1 KO) of Spain as part of the highly anticipated Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano III bout. Baumgardner vs. Miranda, a ten-round undisputed super featherweight championship fight will be the chief supporting bout on an all women’s professional boxing card at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event will be shown live on Netflix at no additional cost to its 300+ million subscribers on Friday, July 11th.

A new MVP signee, Baumgardner (15-1, 7 KOs) was born in Fremont, Ohio. She is of German, Korean, and African-American descent, and has built a career defined by power, precision, and resilience. Her success is fueled not only by her work ethic but also by her deep faith, which guides her journey both in and out of the ring. Baumgardner turned professional in 2017 with a first-round TKO victory. In November 2021, she knocked out Terri Harper in Sheffield, England, to claim the WBC and IBO titles. She continued her rise, securing wins over Edith Matthysse and Mikaela Mayer in October 2022, adding the WBO and IBF belts to her collection. In February 2023, she became undisputed, defeating Elhem Mekhaled in New York to claim the WBA title. In July 2023, Baumgardner avenged her only career loss with a dominant win over Christina Linardatou in Detroit, successfully defending her undisputed crown. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Baumgarnder then spent more than a year away from the ring dealing with repercussions of a positive test for banned performance-enhancing substances.

She returned in September 2024 against Delfine Persoon, scoring an early knockdown before an accidental clash of heads led to a no-contest ruling. Outside the ring, Baumgardner is breaking barriers for women, proving that skill, strength, and marketability can coexist at the highest level. Her faith remains at the center of everything she does, keeping her grounded and focused on the bigger picture. With an unshakable mindset and a purpose greater than herself, she continues to push the sport forward, building a legacy that extends far beyond the championship belts. Known for her explosive power, technical skill, and relentless determination, Baumgardner has been calling for big fights against the sport’s elite, and her upcoming 10-round undisputed title defense against Miranda on Friday, July 11 now promises to deliver just that.

“I came to MVP for moments like this—high stakes, global stage, and the chance to show the world who I really am,” said Alycia Baumgardner. “Amanda and Katie have done incredible things for women’s boxing, and it’s an honor to share the card with them. But I didn’t come to stand beside greatness—I came to be it. This night, this spotlight—it’s mine. Jennifer Miranda, I hope you’re ready—because I’m the one they warn you about. The pretty face with bad intentions. When that bell rings, it’s not personal, but it is going to hurt. My belts are staying with me. And still.”

Miranda (12-0, 1 KO) started boxing at age 23 while at university, quickly proving herself worthy of a spot on the Spanish national team. In her amateur career, she became a nine-time consecutive Spanish national champion, won multiple international titles, and represented Spain at high-level competitions, ranking among the top nine in the world, establishing herself as a pioneer of women’s boxing in Spain. Miranda then made her professional debut in 2018, quickly establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with, competing for the then-vacant Spanish featherweight title in just her second pro fight. She defeated Jessica Sanchez by unanimous decision and successfully defended the title against Vanesa Caballero in 2019, becoming the first woman in history to defend the Spanish national title. Miranda stepped up to face Panama's Teresa Almengor in her most recent professional October 2024, coming away victorious with a unanimous decision and becoming the new WBA interim world champion in her sixth title fight out of her twelve pro fights to date. Alongside boxing, Miranda has completed two bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees including an MBA, and is currently pursuing another degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Miranda is also an accomplished actress who is best known for her role as ‘Arteche’ in Netflix’s global smash-hit series Money Heist. The 38-year old trains out of The Boxer Club in Madrid, Spain with coach Javier Pardo, and is managed by Sergio Pérez.

“MVP is leading the charge in elevating women’s boxing, and I am grateful to be a part of this historic all-women’s event in one of the most iconic arenas in the world—Madison Square Garden,” said Jennifer Miranda. “Alycia Baumgardner is an incredible champion, but this is my opportunity to become the first ever undisputed champion from Spain and I will do so. It’s time to write my name in the history books of boxing. Undisputed.”

“Alycia Baumgardner now has the stage to show the world why she is The Most Valuable fighter in the sport,” said Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions. “But Jennifer Miranda is another world-class athlete who has been waiting for the opportunity to demonstrate why she is one of the best in boxing. This is a world-class matchup between two elite athletes, and we’re thrilled to showcase it as the co-main event of this historic night. The future of women’s boxing is now, and MVP is proud to lead the charge in taking the sport to unprecedented heights. A huge thank you to Netflix and Madison Square Garden for sharing our vision and helping make this moment possible.”

Taylor vs. Serrano 3 marks the third chapter in one of boxing’s fiercest rivalries, pitting the sport’s two biggest female stars against each other once more in a women’s super lightweight undisputed championship fight contested over 10, two-minute rounds. Their first clash in April 2022 made history as the first women’s fight to headline Madison Square Garden, earning global acclaim and winning Sports Illustrated’s Fight of the Year and The Ring’s Event of the Year for 2022. Taylor vs. Serrano was also nominated for Sports Business Journal’s Event of the Year, a testament to the global reach and power of the event. Their rematch at AT&T Stadium in November 2024, streamed on Netflix, shattered records with 74 million average viewers globally, becoming the most-watched women’s sporting event in U.S. history and was named the 2024 Women’s Fight of the Year by ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and Boxing Scene. Now, ESPN’s pound-for-pound #2 Taylor and #3 Serrano return to The Garden where their rivalry began, with all of Taylor’s undisputed super lightweight belts on the line again. This event, promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, underscores a groundbreaking commitment to women’s boxing following Women’s History Month, not only featuring the first-ever all-women’s card in MSG history but also setting a new financial standard for female fighters with Taylor and Serrano set to receive record-breaking purses, continuing to raise the benchmark as the highest-paid female fighters of all time.

Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix redefined sports history in November 2024 with Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Taylor vs. Serrano 2, the first-ever live professional sports event on Netflix. That event shattered records, becoming the most-streamed sporting event ever with 108 million live viewers globally, while Taylor vs. Serrano 2 averaged 74 million viewers, 56 million peak concurrent views, and claimed the title of the most-watched women’s sporting event in US history with an average minute audience (AMA) of 47 million in the US. Now, MVP and Netflix bring boxing back to The Garden with Taylor vs. Serrano 3, headlining an all-women’s card that reinforces their commitment to elevating women in sports. Additional details, including the undercard, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Taylor vs. Serrano 3 is produced, marketed, and promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and distributed by Netflix.

Today (Saturday) marks a true undisputed, world championship bout in the 102-pound weight class. Christina “Tiny Tina” Rupprecht prepares to defend her three atomweight championships against her IBF counterpart, Sumire Yamanaka of Japan. This high-stakes clash will take place at MBS Arena in Potsdam, Germany, promising a battle that could redefine the landscape of the division. Rupprecht (13-1-1, 3 KOs), a former 105-pound champion, built her reputation on technical mastery and strategic execution, making her one of the most formidable fighters in the lightest divisions. The German champion aims to solidify her legacy, but standing in her way is a hungry and undefeated Yamanaka (8-0).

Yamanaka brings to the table a mix of speed and relentless aggression, a stark contrast to Rupprecht’s calculated and precise approach. This clash of styles adds another layer of intrigue to an already high-stakes bout.

Both fighters enter the ring fresh off unanimous decision victories. In November, Rupprecht became a three-belt champion by defeating Japan's Eri Matsuda (7-2-1, 1 KO) via unanimous decision in Heidelberg, Germany. In the first round, Rupprecht decked Matsuda with a strong right to the face that sent her straight to the canvas. Before that, Rupprecht had defeated Fabiana Bytyqi in January to become a two-division world champion.

Yamanaka defeated Mika Iwakawa in her most recent outing to retain the IBF title. However, this will be Yamanaka’s second fight outside of Japan and her first ever outside of Asia, a significant factor that could test her ability to perform on the global stage.