In a poignant display of emotion, grit, and athletic redemption, Ramla Ali fulfilled a lifelong ambition in Arlington, Texas, securing her first world boxing title at the age of 36. The British-Somali fighter claimed the vacant WBO and IBF super-bantamweight titles after earning a hard-fought split-decision victory over previously undefeated American opponent Mikiah Kreps.
The victory marks a momentous crowning achievement in a life defined by extraordinary resilience. Having fled war-torn Somalia as a infant baby before building a multifaceted career as an Olympian, activist, fashion model, and author, Ali reached the summit of professional boxing. The achievement comes at a symbolic time, coinciding with the recent release of a biographical film depicting her remarkable life story, and banishing the painful memories of her first world title attempt two years ago when she was defeated by Yamileth Mercado.
When the final bell sounded and the official verdict was announced, the overwhelming magnitude of the moment swept over Ali. Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed to her knees on the canvas. The ringside judges delivered scorecards of 97-92 and 96-93 in Ali’s favor, while a third judge scored the bout 98-91 for Kreps.
In the immediate aftermath of her victory, an emotional Ali dedicated the historic win to her late father, who passed away in May. She revealed that the memory of her father was the driving force behind her performance during the grueling ten-round contest.
"When we were in the changing room, my coach said, because my dad passed away in May, ‘Do this for him,’" Ali reflected after the fight. "That’s where those emotions came out at the end, because I did it for my dad."
Reflecting on what the world title means beyond her own personal triumph, Ali emphasized the broader cultural and inspiration impact of her victory.
"I can’t put into words what this means to me and what this means to all of Somalia," she said. "I’ve hopefully inspired so many young girls and boys out there to dream big and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do."
While Ali celebrated her milestone, there was profound frustration in the opposite corner. The 30-year-old Kreps was visibly devastated by the split decision, having entered the ring convinced she had done enough to protect her unbeaten professional record.
The contest turned dramatically in the third round when Ali landed a sharp, flush left hook that forced a official knockdown. Kreps walked directly into the heavy blow, and although she vocally protested the referee’s count, video replays confirmed that her glove touched the canvas as she struggled to steady her balance. The resulting 10-8 round provided Ali with a vital cushion on the scorecards.
Despite securing the early knockdown, Ali found herself subjected to immense pressure as the fight progressed. Kreps responded furiously, surging forward in the second half of the bout and relentless pushing the tempo. The numerical fight statistics reflected Kreps’ aggressive work rate; the American outlanded Ali across the match, landing 115 total punches to Ali’s 78, and connecting with 91 power shots compared to Ali’s 70. This sustained aggression was clearly appreciated by one judge, who awarded Kreps a wide 98-91 scorecard.
As the physical toll mounted and the contest threatened to slide away, Ali admitted that every trip back to her corner was a grueling mental battle to summon the energy needed to rise off her stool for the next round.
"I remember going to the corner every round and I remember saying ‘I’m so tired, I can’t do this’. All my coach responded was ‘think about your dad, do this for your dad’. I think that really pushed me. I really boxed out of my skin, I was so knackered. I did it for him," Ali explained.
She paid tribute to the pace set by her opponent, adding: "Every time I went to the corner, I kept saying, ‘I’m so tired. I’m so tired,’ because your work rate was just next level."
What next for trailblazer Ali?
Having conquered the super-bantamweight division by capturing both the WBO and IBF belts, intriguing possibilities now lie ahead for Ali. A lucrative unification clash could be on the horizon against Australia’s Skye Nicolson, who retained her WBC featherweight championship on the same undercard in Texas with a unanimous decision victory over Japan’s Miyo Yoshida. Nicolson, who is signed to Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, represents another high-profile figure in the expanding landscape of women’s boxing.
For the moment, however, Ali can reflect on a career milestone that once seemed virtually impossible. Her journey began under the direst of circumstances, escaping civil conflict in Somalia as a baby before settling in London as a refugee. Through boxing, she carved out a pioneering path, becoming the first Muslim woman to capture an English amateur boxing title. She later made history as the first boxer to represent Somalia at an Olympic Games during the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Ali’s impact has consistently transcended the boundaries of the sport. In 2022, she and Crystal Garcia Nova made history by becoming the first women to compete in a professional boxing match in Saudi Arabia. Beyond her athletic achievements, Ali has established herself as a prominent fashion model, author, and committed social activist, founding the non-profit organization Sisters Club to provide free boxing classes and safe spaces for young women.
Her path to world championship status was far from linear. After turning professional in late 2020, Ali publicly declared her ambition to become a world champion. However, those dreams suffered a major setback in 2023 when she was knocked out in her ninth professional fight, following her earlier title loss to Yamileth Mercado.
The setbacks prompted critics to question whether her extensive commitments outside the ring—including her modeling campaigns and charity work—were diluting her focus inside the squared circle. Skepticism mounted after the 2023 loss, but Ali persevered through the scrutiny to reach the pinnacle of the sport in Texas.
Dubois confronts Baumgardner over unification fight
The action in Arlington was capped off by a dramatic main event, where 32-year-old American star Alycia Baumgardner delivered a dominant performance against Elif Nur Turhan to become a two-weight world champion, adding the IBF lightweight title to her collection.
However, Baumgardner’s post-fight celebrations were quickly overshadowed when British world champion Caroline Dubois confronted her from ringside during the live broadcast.
Dubois, the 25-year-old WBO and WBC lightweight titleholder, directly challenged Baumgardner as the American spoke into the microphone in the center of the ring. Dubois, who is scheduled to face WBA belt holder Stephanie Han in February, pressed Baumgardner on whether they would meet in a mega-unification fight.
Standing at the edge of the ring, Dubois repeatedly asked, "Are we going to fight?"
Baumgardner responded by emphasizing her desire to become the undisputed champion at lightweight, insisting that Dubois must first handle her business against Han in February before any contract for a clash between them can be finalized.
The ringside exchange sets up a tantalizing prospective matchup in the lightweight division. Dubois remains undefeated across 15 professional fights, but a showdown with Baumgardner—who previously held undisputed status at super-featherweight and has been unbeaten since 2018—would represent the biggest fight of the young Briton’s career to date.
