Australia’s boxing queen Cherneka Johnson says she’s expecting an emotionally charged Dina Thorslund to throw everything at her when the pair collide for the undisputed bantamweight championship this weekend, warning the unbeaten Dane has “a chip on her shoulder”.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia ahead of Sunday’s Orlando blockbuster, the reigning undisputed champ said she expects Thorslund to come out firing from the opening bell.
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While Johnson stressed there was no personal animosity from her end, she believes the former champ is carrying extra motivation after vacating her world titles following her pregnancy last year – and then missing out on what she felt should have been a direct route back to the undisputed crown.
“Most definitely,” Johnson said when asked if she was expecting fireworks.
“She’s got a chip on her shoulder with me and, look, that’s cool with me.
“I don’t care.
“If anything, that’ll probably work to my advantage because I feel like people who hold on to negative emotions and negative energy… it’s a little bit of a drainer.”
Asked why she believed Thorslund was carrying that chip on her shoulder, Johnson pointed to Thorslund’s wait for a shot at reclaiming the titles she never lost in the ring.
“I think maybe she wanted me to be her first fight back as her comeback,” Johnson explained.
“We had already had a fight lined up, so she sort of had to wait a little bit longer than she would’ve liked.
“And that’s not my problem. She’s getting a shot now.”
Thorslund has made little secret of those feelings.
After the fight was announced last month, the Dane wrote on social media: “She chose to fight someone else instead of giving me the opportunity I had earned. That was the biggest mistake she could have made.”
Despite those comments, the Queenslander insists the pair have never taken their rivalry offline.
“Nothing’s been said [directly],” said Johnson.
“We’ve had a face-off. We had a face-off the other day, actually – first time face to face. First time I’ve even felt her energy or anything like that.
“But yeah, no words have been said.
“I know she’s had a few digs at me on her socials.”
But if Thorslund believes reclaiming the belts will be straightforward, Johnson says she’s in for a big shock.
For one thing, ‘Sugar Neekz’ has grown rather attached to carrying all four belts around the world.
“They are heavy,” she laughed.
“I think all together, all four belts are like 15kg!”
She also believes she has the game plan to beat one of the world’s best fighters.
“I feel like every fighter has weak spots and I have a very good team around me,” she explained.
“We do a lot of study and have got a really good game plan coming into fight night.
“I do know I’m going to be ready for whatever she brings.
“Whether she wants to have a scrap. Whether she wants to box.
“I believe that I can combat all of it.”
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The blockbuster showdown is primed to be one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing this year – and potentially a Fight of the Year contender.
“People definitely want to see this fight, that’s for sure,” said Johnson.
“This could be one of the best fights of the year.
“Most definitely.”
Johnson’s undisputed bantamweight title defence against Thorslund will be shown live on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports at no extra cost to subscribers.