British-Somali boxer Ramla Ali won the first world titles of her career on Sunday, taking the vacant IBO and WBF junior featherweight belts with a disputed split-decision victory over American Mikiah Kreps in Arlington, Texas.

The 36-year-old prevailed after 10 rounds against her former sparring partner, according to reporting by Al Jazeera’s Andy Richardson. Two judges scored the bout 97-92 and 96-93 for Ali, while the third favoured Kreps by 98-91.

Ali knocked Kreps down in the third round. But official punch statistics cited by Al Jazeera showed Kreps landing 115 punches to Ali’s 78, with the American also ahead in power punches. The decision drew criticism, including from veteran promoter Lou Di Bella, who said on social media that Kreps had won.

The fighters nevertheless shared an emotional exchange in the ring. Ali stopped Kreps from leaving after the result and thanked her for the challenge.

“Mikiah, I want to share this victory with you because you pushed me for 10 rounds,” Ali said. “Your work rate was next level.”

“I respect you,” Kreps replied as the two put their arms around each other.

Ali’s family fled Somalia’s civil war and settled in London in 1992. She took up boxing as a teenager in East London and represented Somalia at Tokyo 2020, becoming the country’s first Olympic boxer.

After the victory, Ali spoke about the death of her father in May and the exhaustion she had fought through during the bout.

“I can’t put into words what this means to me and what this means to all of Somalia,” she said in the ring. “I’ve hopefully inspired so many young girls and boys out there to dream big.”

Sources