British-Somali boxer Ramla Ali defeats Mikiah Kreps for first world title
Ali wins a controversial split -decision fight against American Kreps to claim IBO and WBF junior featherweight belts.
British-Somali boxer Ramla Ali claimed her first world title at the age of 37 by defeating American Mikiah Kreps in a split-decision victory. The bout, which took place on Sunday in Arlington, Texas, saw Ali secure both the vacant WBO and IBF junior featherweight belts. Despite being outmatched in overall rounds (115-78) and power punches (91-70), Ali outperformed Kreps in eight out of the ten rounds.
A notable moment of the fight occurred when Ali knocked Kreps down with a right hook in the third round, though Kreps managed to recover quickly. However, the fight proved to be a contentious one, with the judges delivering split decisions: two scored the bout 97-92 and 96-93 in favor of Ali, while the third judge scored the fight 98-91 for Kreps.
Prior to her boxing career, Ali had spent her formative years in London, having fled Somalia’s civil war as a refugee. She made history as the first Somali boxer to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, representing Somalia. Additionally, she became the first Muslim woman to win an English amateur boxing title.
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