Ramla Ali wins first world titles at 36 in disputed split decision
British-Somali boxer Ramla Ali beat American Mikiah Kreps in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday to claim the vacant WBO and IBF junior featherweight belts. Kreps landed more punches, and promoter Lou DiBella called for an investigation into the scoring.
Ramla Ali is a world champion for the first time, at 36. She beat former sparring partner Mikiah Kreps on a 10-round split decision at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday night. The win earned her the vacant WBO and IBF women's 122lb titles. The division is known as both junior featherweight and super-bantamweight. Ali dropped Kreps in the third round with a hook to the chin that sent the American's glove to the canvas. From then on, Kreps took control, according to The Guardian. She raised her work rate, kept up the pressure and appeared to win most of the remaining rounds. Two judges scored the fight 97-92 and 96-93 for Ali. The third had Kreps winning 98-91, the newspaper reported. The Guardian's own card had Kreps ahead 97-92. Compubox numbers cast further doubt on the result. Kreps landed 115 punches to Ali's 78, including 91 power shots to 70. She outlanded Ali in eight of the 10 rounds and threw 525 punches to Ali's 346. Kreps, 30, was previously unbeaten and believed she had done enough, BBC Sport reported. Promoter Lou DiBella wrote on social media that Kreps "won that fight and it wasn't close". He called for an investigation into the scoring. Ali fell to her knees and wept when…
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