“The question isn’t who is going to let me, it’s who is going to stop me.” As if the author and philosopher Ayn Rand‘s made the quote for the contemporary women’s boxing scene. It’s no longer ‘hit like man’ stuff. Women can hit as hard. Take the recent bout between women’s IBF super bantamweight title fight at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.
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The reigning champion, New Zealander Cherneka ‘Neekz’ Johnson, had to defend her title from the challenger Susie ‘Susie Q’ Ramadan from neighboring Australia. Cherneka won the fight through a unanimous decision. But, it was the fight that stole the limelight.
Read More: Boxing World Reacts as Female Boxer Looks Like She’s ‘Got Hit With an Axe’
The Bloody Bout Down-Under
Early in the fight, Neekz received a severe gash on the forehead after a headbutt with Susie Q. Her blood-splashed face led to medical inspections. Finally cleared to continue, a decision that hadn’t gone well with some viewers and netizens, Cherneka went on to win the match.
Though not as ferocious as the bout per se, the aftermath was nonetheless catty. The forty-three years old Aussie challenger was not happy with the decision. Besides, she had doubts about the champion and whether she had taken performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
She told commentator Ben Damon in a post-fight interview to “get her [Johnson] tested” also “she’s on it (PEDs).”
Susie Q Tweets
During the fight, the champion’s blood seems to have gone into the challenger’s mouth. A cynical Ramadan commented, taking the incident and fight to her Twitter handle.
I love the taste of blood but not literally 🤢🤮 pic.twitter.com/oITcBOmm9h
— SusieQ Ramadan (@susieqramadan1) October 31, 2022
Her fans reacted in sync.
Omg, you were so put off by it, was on your facial expression!! Oh dear. I saw your disgust having watched the fight again on YouTube.
— Jennifer Jenner GGG (@jennife18325634) October 31, 2022
Susie was quick to respond.
ye my face expression says it all 😂
— SusieQ Ramadan (@susieqramadan1) November 1, 2022
— Chewy (@Chewy9991) October 31, 2022
Ewww that’s sooo gross 🤢🤮
— Jennifer Jenner GGG (@jennife18325634) October 31, 2022
🤣🤣🤣🤣👍🏾👌🏽👊🏾👊🏾
— Andy Gray (@Real_AndyGray) October 31, 2022
I am still a bit confused why you lost 2 points
— Taffy Smith (@Smith10Taffy) October 31, 2022
Susie’s still in doubt about the match outcome?
tell me about it nor was it a knockdown
— SusieQ Ramadan (@susieqramadan1) November 1, 2022
Ok who on timeline gonna say it 😂🤐
— Known as Shrek (@Ausogre) October 31, 2022
Fine ill say it. Its not the blood that worried u it was ops ped taste 😂😂🤷♂️
— Known as Shrek (@Ausogre) November 1, 2022
One fan, requested her not be the female version of Iron Mike!
But please don’t be a female version of Mike Tyson! 🥊
— Maurice Robinson (@Maurice42797448) November 1, 2022
Aftermath…
Later on, during a press conference, Susie Q Ramadan took her words back, “Look I probably shouldn’t have said what I said at the end, I didn’t mean to accuse her or anything like that.”
Neekz, who seems quite used to such slandering, shot back, “A lot of people are going around with those accusations at the moment.” “Get me tested if you want. I worked hard. ……….just gave everything to this fight. “I had a short camp and a little bit of a rough camp, but you know what? It’s probably been my best one to date.
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Women’s boxing has come full circle. It is getting the attention it deserves. They are still far behind when it boils down to money. But the world has finally recognized that women can be as brutal and menacing inside the ring as men can be. Let us know who your favorite female boxer is in the comments.
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