Australian boxer Cherneka Johnson has retained her WBA bantamweight belt with a dominant win over Brit Nina Hughes in a rematch of the pair's controversial title fight last May.
Having seen their charge battered virtually from the outset, Hughes' corner threw in the towel 46 seconds into the seventh round of Saturday night's bout at Qudos Bank Arena.
The TKO victory improved Johnson's record to 17 wins from 19 professional fights and settled a score with the English challenger.
Hughes (6-2, 2KOs) had been livid after initially being awarded their last contest in Perth 10 months ago, only for the ring announcer to then declare Johnson a majority points winner.
But Johnson took the decision out of the judges' hands this time around.
"Never in doubt," declared the New Zealand-born Gold Coaster.
"It was the moment that I had envisioned. It was going to be a clear convincing win and I said that all throughout the camp.
"We wanted to let off a lot more cleaner shots, but filling the gap and not giving her the room to throw punches and move worked in my favour.
"Obviously I'm the bigger, stronger girl in bantamweight, and just adding those extra punches got the job done."
But while Johnson rejoiced, fellow Australian Skye Nicolson relinquished her featherweight world title to American Tiara "Dark Menace" Brown.Â
The Florida cop lived up to her fighting words to snap Nicolson's unbeaten record in a split decision victory after the two combatants slugged it out for 10 titanic rounds.
One judge each awarded the fight 96-94 either way, with the third giving the fight 97-93 to Brown, who claimed the WBC strap and remains unbeaten herself in 19 pro fights.
After two successful defences, it was Johnson's first defeat in 13 bouts.
