Ramla Ali Explained

Ramla Ali
Birth Date:1989 9, df=y[1]
Birth Place:Mogadishu, Somalia
Nationality:
  • Somali
  • British
Module:
Haircolor:Black
Eyecolor:Dark Brown
Agency:IMG Models (New York, Paris, Milan, London)[2]
Module2:
Embed:yes
Height:5 ft 7 in
Weight:Super bantamweight
Style:Orthodox
Boxrec:868836
Total:11
Wins:9
Ko:2
Losses:2

Ramla Said Ahmed Ali (born 16 September 1989) is a British[3] professional boxer, model and campaign activist. Selected as one of the twelve 2023 TIME Magazine woman of the year. Ramla Ali was the first Somali boxer to compete at the Olympic Games, the first to win an international gold medal for the country in boxing and is currently a global brand ambassador for UNICEF, Siro Hotels, Cartier & Christian Dior. She is the first female in history to have competed in a professional boxing competition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Career

Boxing

As an amateur, Ali won the 2015 Novice national championships in England, the 2016 England Boxing Elite National Championships, the 2016 Great British Championships, and the 2019 African Zone featherweight title.[4]

Ali initially represented England but, in 2018, changed to represent Somalia. She has not returned to Somalia since leaving as a child but wanted to help put the country in the headlines for positive reasons. She became the first boxer to win an international gold medal while representing Somalia.[5] Later, in 2021, she competed in the women's featherweight event at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Although she lost her first fight, she became the first boxer ever to represent Somalia on the Olympic stage.[6]

In 2022, she defeated Dominican boxer Crystal Garcia Nova in the first professional women’s boxing match held in Saudi Arabia.[7]

WBC Super Bantamweight Championship

Ali challenged Yamileth Mercado for her WBC super bantamweight title at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on June 29, 2024, losing by unanimous decision.[8]

Writing

Ramla's debut novel Not Without A Fight is a self-help book based on ten of the most important fights in her life. It was published by Merky Books & Penguin Random House. It has also been announced that Academy Award nominated, BAFTA winning producer Lee Magiday will be making a feature-length drama in collaboration with Film4 based on the life story of Ramla Ali.[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Campaigning and advocacy

Ali helped set up Somalia's boxing federation in Mogadishu and became the first boxer to have represented Somalia in the Women's World Championships, held in New Delhi, India.

In January 2018, Ali launched The Sisters Club, a charitable initiative created to provide spaces for Muslim women and minorities to learn and enjoy boxing in the U.K. Subsequently, the initiative expanded to also welcome women who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence to learn self-defence. The charity partnered with brands Nike, Sports Direct & Everlast to expand its program in 2021, enabling it to reach more women across the country.

Ali committed to giving 25 percent of her first year's earnings as a professional to Black Lives Matter charities.[4]

Personal life

Ali moved to England from Somalia as a refugee from the Somali Civil War. When Ali was a toddler, her brother was killed at the age of 12 by a mortar when playing outside, prompting the family to leave for the UK via Kenya. She started boxing as a teenager in an effort to lose weight.[16]

Honours

She was one of fifteen women selected to appear on the cover of the September 2019 issue of British Vogue by guest editor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.[17]

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
11Loss9–2 Yamileth MercadoUD1029 Jun 2024
10Win9–1Julissa GuzmanUD104 Nov 2023[18]
9Loss8–1Julissa GuzmanKO8 (10), 17 Jun 2023[19]
8Win8–0Avril Mathie UD104 Feb 2023[20]
7Win7–0Crystal Garcia NovaKO1 (8), 20 Aug 2022
6Win6–0Augustina RojasPTS89 Jul 2022
5Win5–0Shelly Barnett2 (8), 19 Mar 2022
4Win4–0Isela VeraUD627 Nov 2021
3Win3–0Mikayla Nebel629 May 2021
2Win2–0Bec ConnollyPTS620 Mar 2021
1Win1–0Eva Hubmayer631 Oct 2020

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boxing ALI Ramla Said Ahmed - Tokyo 2020 Olympics . 10 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210810203824/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/boxing/athlete-profile-n1323727-ali-ramla-said-ahmed.htm . 10 August 2021 . dead.
  2. Web site: Ramla Said Ali - Model.
  3. Web site: BoxRec: Ramla Ali . BoxRec.
  4. News: Why the boxer Ramla Ali is a force for good. 10 December 2020. Financial Times. 29 December 2021.
  5. News: Featherweight Boxing Champion Ramla Ali . 12 November 2019 . Elle. 29 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Podcast: The Somali who kept boxing secret from her family. Olympics. 24 July 2021.
  7. Web site: Saudi: Ramla Ali wins 1st professional women's boxing match in 1 min. Sakina. Fatima. 21 August 2022. The Siasat Daily.
  8. Web site: Mercado beats Britain's Ali to retain WBC title. BBC Sport. 30 June 2024.
  9. Web site: The refugee boxer tearing down barriers. Vasco Cotovio. Salma Abdelaziz. CNN. 20 June 2018 . 23 August 2018.
  10. Web site: The Shortlist - The Muslim News. Muslimnews.co.uk. 23 August 2018.
  11. Web site: We Are All Equal In Boxing. theguardian.com. 18 November 2018. 18 November 2018.
  12. News: My Secret Life As A Boxing Champion. BBC Sport. 12 October 2018.
  13. Web site: Kay . Jeremy . Sleeper Film, Curate Films line up Somali boxing champion drama 'In The Shadows' . Screen . June 8, 2020 . September 8, 2019.
  14. Web site: Ritman . Alex . Toronto: 'The Favourite' Producer Punches Up Boxing Biopic 'In the Shadows' . The Hollywood Reporter . June 8, 2020 . September 8, 2019.
  15. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 'The Favourite' Producer Lee Magiday Set To Make Film4 Pic 'In The Shadows' About Somali British Female Boxing Champ Ramla Ali . Deadline . June 8, 2020 . September 8, 2019.
  16. Web site: Somalian refugee finds success in the ring - CNN Video. CNN. 20 June 2018 . 23 August 2018.
  17. News: Meghan Markle puts Sinéad Burke on the cover of Vogue's September issue . The Irish Times . 31 July 2019 .
  18. News: en. Ramla Ali claims revenge over Julissa Alejandra Guzman despite 'jelly legs' . BBC Sport . 4 November 2023 . 8 Nov 2023.
  19. Web site: en . Parviz Iskenderov . Julissa Alejandra Guzman KO's Ramla Ali with big left hook in Round 8 . 17 June 2023 . Fightmag . 17 Jun 2023. .
  20. Web site: en . Parviz Iskenderov . Ramla Ali defeats Avril Mathie by decision to lift first belt . 5 February 2023 . Fightmag . 4 April 2023. .