News Beat
‘Looked at that fight’ – Fran Hennessy sends message to champ Cherneka Johnson ahead of huge BBC main event
FRAN HENNESSY’s sights are already set on a showdown with the queen of the bantamweights, Cherneka Johnson.
The undefeated 118lbs prospect makes her first outing of the year on Saturday night on Boxxer’s second show of their BBC deal at the Copperbox Arena.
Hennessy, the daughter of former British boxing promoter Mick, will main-event the card against Ellie Bouttell, with the winner being crowned WBC Silver bantamweight champion.
A win over the China-based Bouttell will see Hennessy become the mandatory challenger for the Mexican sanctioning body’s prestigious green belt.
And she’d happily jump at the opportunity to fight the undisputed bantamweight queen – despite being so green in her career.
She told Punchout Boxing: “Cherneka, all credit to her. A great fighter, respect to her. Very respectable champion.
READ MORE ON FRAN HENNESSY
“But of course, I think you turn pro in boxing, you look at the champion.
“And you look who’s up there and you have your eyes on them, don’t you?
“I think her and Nina Forsland are gonna have a fighter, is what I’m hearing.
“And once I have this fight with Ellie, I’ll be the mandatory for that belt.”
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There’s a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
Tyson Fury is expected to make his return, Conor Benn is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora could fight for the 50th and final time and Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of Moses Itauma, Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
Up first we have a massive fight with Stateside superstars Shakur Stevenson and Teofimo Lopez meeting later this month in Madison Square Garden.
Here’s all the big fights coming up…
January
- Sat 24 – Raymond Muratalla vs Andy Cruz – IBF lightweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson – WBO super-lightweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 31 – Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Josh Kelly – IBF super-welterweight title – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Francesca Hennessy vs Ellie Bouttell – BBC2
February
- Sat 7 – Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa – WBA featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 21 – Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios – WBC welterweight title – DAZN PPV
- Sat 21 – Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington – DAZN
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
Before she can think about sharing the ring with Johnson, she has the not so small task of beating Bouttell.
Like Hennessy, the 29-year-old is undefeated, with the only blemish on her record being the split draw she had in her pro debut in 2023.
Hennessy said of her eighth-pro opponent: ” I’m not overlooking Ellie, though. I know she’s a great fighter and shes going to really come.
“She wants to win, I want to win. But I just don’t see anyone beating me at this point the way I’m feeling.
“Obviously Cherneka, I’ve always looked at that fight and known that’s going to happen down the line.
“But she’s a great fighter.”
