British-Somali ‌‌‌‌boxer Ramla Ali defeats Mikiah Kreps for first ⁠⁠⁠⁠world title

Ali, who fled Somalia’s civil war and settled in London, won the controversial split-decision fight against American Kreps to claim IBO and WBF junior featherweight belts.

Ramla Ali, right, fights Mikiah Kreps during the third round of their bout for the vacant IBF and WBO women's junior featherweight world titles on November 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas [Julio Cortez/AP]

Ramla Ali, a British Somali boxer whose life story is the subject of a new film, has realised a long-held dream and won her first world title to claim two vacant junior featherweight belts in the United States.

The 36-year-old landed the biggest titles of her career by winning the IBO and WBF belts in a controversial split-decision victory over American fighter Mikiah Kreps in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday.

“Mikiah, I want to share this victory with you because you pushed me for 10 rounds,” an emotional Ali said while addressing her opponent, who she stopped from exiting the ring after being declared the winner.

“I kept saying I’m so tired because your work rate was next level. I don’t know how I kept up, so thank you for being such a great boxer.”

Mikiah Kreps was covered in blood as she fought Ramla Ali [Julio Cortez/AP]

The 30-year-old Niagara Falls native reciprocated the emotion. “I respect you,” Kreps said as both fighters wrapped an arm around each other.

During the fight, Ali had Kreps on the canvas in round three, but she was behind her younger opponent in the overall punch count at the end of the fight.

The outcome of the fight caused controversy from the moment the referee lifted Ali’s arm when the decision was announced.

One judge scored the bout 98-91 for Kreps but the other judges saw the fight differently and gave Ali the win with scores of 97-92 and 96-93.

Veteran promoter Lou Di Bella wrote on social media, “Mikiah Kreps won that fight and it wasn’t even close. Stevie Wonder could see that.”