A super-bantamweight unification fight could be on the horizon if Ramla Ali and Skye Nicolson both emerge victorious from their respective bouts in Arlington, Texas. The two fighters are scheduled to compete on the same card at College Park Center, with Ali challenging for two world titles and Nicolson defending her WBC belt.
Ali faces Mikiah Kreps for the IBF and WBO super-bantamweight championships, while Nicolson puts her WBC title on the line against Miyo Yoshida. Should both win, a three-belt unification contest between them could follow early next year.
Ali's Remarkable Journey
Ali’s path to a world title shot has been anything but conventional. A refugee from Somalia, she moved to London as a child and initially took up boxing in secret. She went on to become the first woman to represent Somalia in boxing at an Olympic Games, and has also worked as a model, appearing on the cover of fashion magazines. A film about her life has just been released.
Reflecting on the build-up to this championship fight, Ali said she is trying to embrace the moment. She hopes the film will create a positive narrative around migration, explaining that families do not leave everything they know without reason, but because they fear for their lives and want a safe environment for their children to thrive.
Boxing, she said, has changed her life and provides hope to many people. She described the sport as a safe haven where troubles can be left at the door during training, and likened watching boxing in its truest form to watching art.
Chance to Make History
Becoming a world champion would be a significant achievement for Ali, who said it would be incredible to accomplish alongside everything else in her life. She noted that Britain is the only home she has ever known, but that winning would also provide hope to thousands of people in Somalia by showing them that someone from their background can succeed.
Despite the broader significance, Ali insisted she is not looking past Kreps. Her focus, she said, is solely on winning the fight in front of her before considering anything else.
Nicolson's Clear Plan
Nicolson, for her part, has a clear plan. If she gets through Yoshida, she wants the winner of Ali versus Kreps next for a three-belt unification at 122lbs. She said the winner of that bout would be her main focus after the Yoshida fight, and that the matchup makes sense.
Looking further ahead, Nicolson believes she could become undisputed champion within her next three fights, a goal that has so far proved elusive. She stated her belief that she can be undisputed before the middle of next year.
The event featuring Ali and Nicolson is headlined by Alycia Baumgardner versus Elif Nur Turhan, and is being broadcast live on Sky Sports from 1.30am.
