Hughes wants early date for Johnson rematch

Nina Hughes had her first professional contest at the end of 2021

Nina Hughes is hoping a world title rematch with Cherneka Johnson can take place before the end of the year.

The 42-year-old lost her WBA bantamweight belt in controversial circumstances in May when she was declared the winner on points, but the ring announcer then corrected himself and gave the majority verdict to Johnson.

It was Hughes' second defence of the title she won by outpointing Jamie Mitchell in only her fifth professional bout.

"We're just waiting on a venue and date now," Hughes told BBC Essex. "Hopefully, it will be December or January. I've been training a long time and just want it as soon as possible. I'm ready to go."

Hughes has had to bide her time after the WBA made Mitchell the mandatory challenger to 29-year-old Australian Johnson, who was born in New Zealand.

"They made me mandatory next in line but said Cherneka had to fight Jamie Mitchell next within 120 days - 120 days passed, that fight didn't happen, so they've now made me mandatory," she said.

"I'm really looking forward to it and doing everything in my power to make sure I bring that belt back."

Hughes - then Nina Smith - only took up the sport at the age of 25 and made the Great Britain preliminary squad for the 2012 Olympics, but eventual gold medallist Nicola Adams was selected ahead of her in the flyweight category.

She had her first professional contest at the end of 2021 and won the WBA belt in Dubai less than a year later.

The first fight with Johnson took place in Perth, Australia, and Hughes expects to have to travel overseas again for her chance to regain her title.

"Obviously, I'd rather it be in England but it's out of my hands. I've got to go wherever they arrange it," she said.

Hughes, from Billericay in Essex, is hoping details for the bout can be confirmed in the next couple of weeks.

"When we're out of camp, we try and spar a bit less but because we've had lots of potential dates [for a fight], we've had to stay ready and we're sparring just in case that date comes along.

"It is hard when you haven't got a date, you don't want to peak too early."

Looking back at the controversy of the Johnson fight, Hughes added: "It's obviously disappointing and gutting, but it happens all the time no matter what level.

"From the amateurs to the professional ranks, it's down to three judges at the end of the day, but I've got the opportunity now and want to get my world title back.

"We appealed after the fight to the WBA and they got five neutral judges from around the world to re-judge my fight and three out of the five had me winning."