Boxing: Ramla Ali defeats Mikiah Kreps to become unified world champion aged 36
BBC • • sports
Key Points:
- Ramla Ali won her first world boxing title at age 36 by defeating Mikiah Kreps via split decision in Arlington, Texas, securing the WBO and IBF super-bantamweight championships.
- Ali, a Somali refugee who became an Olympian and activist, dedicated the victory to her late father, drawing strength from his memory throughout the fight.
- Despite being outlanded by Kreps and facing a tough challenge, Ali's resilience and mental toughness helped her prevail, especially after a crucial knockdown in the third round.
- This victory marks a significant milestone in Ali's career, overcoming previous setbacks including a knockout loss in 2023, and positions her for a potential unification bout with WBC champion Skye Nicolson.
- Beyond boxing, Ali is celebrated for breaking barriers as the first Somali Olympic boxer, a Muslim woman English titleholder, a model, author, and founder of a nonprofit supporting young women.
