Unified bantamweight champion Dina Thorslund is out. Cherneka Johnson is in. And the fight for undisputed at 118 pounds is officially on.
MVP confirmed today that Thorslund (23-0, 9 KOs), ranked #1 pound-for-pound by BoxRec, has withdrawn from her unification bout with IBF titleholder Shurretta Metcalf (14-4-1, 2 KOs) due to pregnancy. The 30-year-old Danish star, who was set to make her U.S. debut under the Taylor vs. Serrano 3 card at Madison Square Garden, will now be replaced by MVP’s newest signing — reigning WBA champion Cherneka Johnson (17-2, 7 KOs).
This move turns Metcalf vs. Johnson into a four-belt undisputed bantamweight title fight on July 11 — live globally on Netflix.
Dina’s out, but the belts stay up for grabs
Thorslund, who relinquished her WBO belt and was granted “Champion in Recess” status by the WBC, issued a statement:
“Even though the decision was easy, the athlete in me is sad. I SO wanted to stand in that ring and make history. But I’ll be back… stronger, with a little person watching.”
Her exit cleared the way for Johnson, a former IBF super bantamweight champ, to step in and potentially make history as the first undisputed Australian champion of the four-belt era.
Two women, four belts, one shot at history
“This is a dream come true,” said Johnson. “Fighting at Madison Square Garden on an all-women’s card? Unreal. I’m not just defending my belt — I’m walking in to become undisputed.”
Metcalf wasn’t shy either: “I’m about to make history as the first undisputed bantamweight champion — and I’m doing it from Dallas, Texas.”
Johnson vs. Metcalf headlines a historic undercard loaded with 21 world title belts, including:
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Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 (undisputed super lightweight)
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Alycia Baumgardner vs. Jennifer Miranda (undisputed super featherweight)
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Ellie Scotney vs. Yamileth Mercado (unified super bantamweight)
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Savannah Marshall vs. Shadasia Green (unified super middleweight)
Prelims feature even more firepower
Former undisputed champ Chantelle Cameron takes on Jessica Camara for the WBC interim 140-pound title. Ramla Ali faces Brazil’s Lila Furtado in an eight-rounder. And Canada’s Olympic standout Tamm Thibeault returns in an eight-round middleweight fight with Mary Casamassa — under equal time rules.
MVP’s Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian summed it up:
“All of Australia should be watching. Johnson could make history. This is the biggest night in women’s boxing history. Period.”
Event Info
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Date: Friday, July 11, 2025
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Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA
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Start Time: 7:00 PM ET / 12:00 AM UK (Saturday)
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Live Stream: LIVE on Netflix
Confirmed Fights
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Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, 10 rounds, 140 lbs (Undisputed Super Lightweight Title)
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Alycia Baumgardner vs. Jennifer Miranda, 10 rounds, 130 lbs (Undisputed Super Featherweight Title)
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Cherneka Johnson vs. Shurretta Metcalf, 10 rounds, 118 lbs (Undisputed Bantamweight Title)
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Ellie Scotney vs. Yamileth Mercado, 10 rounds, 122 lbs (Unified Super Bantamweight Title)
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Savannah Marshall vs. Shadasia Green, 10 rounds, 168 lbs (Unified Super Middleweight Title)
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Chantelle Cameron vs. Jessica Camara, 10 rounds, 140 lbs (WBC Interim Super Lightweight Title)
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Ramla Ali vs. Lila Furtado, 8 rounds, 122 lbs
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Tamm Thibeault vs. Mary Casamassa, 8 rounds, 160 lbs (3-minute rounds)
Metcalf talking like she already won but Johnson ain’t gonna play around either 😤 I seen her fight before and she got hands! People sleeping on her cause they don’t know Aussie boxing!
True dat, Australia got some tough fighters too 💪 Just cause it’s not America don’t mean they can’t throw down!
They shouldn’t call this undisputed if one champion didn’t even lose their belt fair and square! Dina didn’t lose in the ring so how’s someone else gonna be called best without beating her?
Facts bro! It ain’t real champion stuff unless you beat the person who had the belts before!
@MVP only doing this for clout 🙄 They know putting women on big card gets attention but they just switching names around like it don’t matter who fights who as long as it’s hyped up.
‘Champion in Recess’ sounds made up to me 😂 Either you champ or you not! You can’t be both at same time just cause you having a baby, that’s not how sports supposed to work!
Honestly I think Metcalf gone win easy cause Johnson already lost two times and this is biggest stage ever for her. That pressure gone get to her real quick on Netflix and all.
I ain’t watching this fight cause I never even heard of Johnson before this. How you go from fighting nobody to being in a undisputed fight? That don’t make no sense at all.
Yeah I feel that too man! Like they just picked her cause they needed somebody fast and didn’t care if she deserved it or not 🤷♂️
I don’t think it’s fair to just let someone else step in like that. If Dina was the champ, she should keep her spot till she come back. Pregnancy don’t mean give up the belt 😡
Nah, rules is rules. She can’t fight right now, so someone gotta take her place. Ain’t no one gonna wait a year just cause she pregnant.
Exactly! You can’t hold up the whole sport for one person. She got Champion in Recess title, so she can come back and fight again later if she really that good.