WBA women’s bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson has re-signed a multi-fight promotional deal with DiBella Entertainment, extending the deal that the fighter and promoter first made in November of 2022.

Johnson, 17-2 (7 KOs), is just two weeks removed from her first title defense, a seventh-round stoppage of Nina Hughes, whom she had previously defeated by majority decision to win the title in her home country of Australia.

Previously, the 30-year-old Johnson had held the IBF junior featherweight title, winning it in 2022 and losing it by decision to Ellie Scotney in June 2023 in a fight marked by a nasty gash Johnson suffered above her left eye.

"I am very happy to secure a convincing win to retain my title," said Johnson in a press release. "Along with my team, I look forward to being a part of the biggest fights available, whether in Australia or the USA."

Promoter Lou DiBella, who was among the first American promoters to give a consistent platform to women’s boxing, called Johnson “one of the emerging faces of women’s boxing.”

“There are few champions in boxing who continue to improve their craft and build their star power simultaneously," said DiBella.

Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.