Disappointment turned to bemused euphoria for a Tauranga-born boxer after an announcer called the wrong winner in a monumental botch-up that’s now being described as one of the worst ever in the sport.
Cherneka Johnson has made history, becoming the second Māori boxer to become a two-division world champion after winning the WBA Bantamweight title.
But it was the controversy from American-New Zealander Lt Dan Hennessey, who announced the fight’s winner, that stole the headlines.
After ten rounds of boxing the decision went to the judge’s scorecards, where Hennessey announced Johnson’s opponent and UK’s reigning world champion, Nina Hughes, as the majority winner.
Video circulating on social media shows Hughes celebrating with her team inside the ring, before Hennessey curiously calls the two boxers back in the middle of the ring seconds later.
